By Fawaz Balogun 

The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), University of Ibadan branch, has welcomed the reversal of the university administration’s ban on the use of gas cookers in halls of residence.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the ERC’UI Branch Secretary, Comrade Ochi N, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the development will provide considerable relief to students struggling with the rising cost of kerosene and other cooking expenses amid the worsening economic hardship confronting them and their families.

“However, we wish to emphasize that this decision was not an act of benevolence on the part of the university administration. Rather, it was a product of students’ collective struggle against poor welfare conditions, which culminated in protests during the first semester” the statement reads.

The ERC recalled that the protests, which brought academic activities on campus to a standstill, compelled the university administration to publicly commit to reversing the ban. However, it noted that the commitment was not immediately implemented.

The statement attributed the delay, among other factors, to the failure of the Students’ Union leadership to sustain pressure on the university administration to honour its commitment.

“Nevertheless, persistent demands by students for improved living conditions, alongside repeated public statements by the ERC challenging the ban and its additional burden on students, helped sustain pressure on the authorities until the reversal was eventually implemented” the statement added.

The group urged the university administration not to portray the development as an act of generosity, describing it as a victory for students’ collective action and a demonstration of their ability to compel authorities to reconsider policies that undermine their welfare.

“The reversal must therefore be recognised as an outcome of students’ determination to challenge an unjustified restriction, rather than a generous concession voluntarily granted by the university administration” , the statement noted.

While acknowledging that safety in university residences was a legitimate concern, the ERC argued that such concerns should not justify blanket restrictions that disregard students’ practical needs. It called on the administration to engage students in developing safety guidelines covering the safe use and storage of gas cylinders, adequate ventilation, fire-prevention measures and access to emergency-response facilities.

The campaign also called on the Students’ Union leadership to convene an emergency congress to discuss the development and ensure that students are adequately informed about the conditions attached to the reversal.

According to the statement, the congress would also provide an opportunity for students to consider measures to prevent the new regulations from becoming instruments of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary confiscation of cooking equipment.

The ERC further urged the university administration to address broader welfare concerns, including affordable accommodation, adequate water supply, reliable electricity, hygienic living conditions and functional facilities. It also linked these demands to the call for the unconditional reinstatement of student activists it described as politically victimised.

The group urged students to remain vigilant and sustain collective efforts to protect their interests, while calling on the Students’ Union leadership to demonstrate a consistent commitment to students’ welfare beyond organising social events.

The statement further reiterates ERC’s position in continuing supporting students’ legitimate demands and mobilising against policies it considers detrimental to their welfare and access to decent living and learning conditions.