By Habeeb Olokooba
The hellish sun in the Seat of Caliphate was its youth that Saturday. Joshua Adejo wore a blue vintage shirt and was walking back from the hostel mini market to his room at Block D, Jubril Aminu Hall of Residence in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto’s main campus.
The 300-level student of Mathematics held a phone charger in his left hand, and his Gionee F–100 in his right hand. Joshua was drenching in sweat and the distance between the mini market and his block looked like that of Lagos to Maiduguri to him—perhaps, he did not actualize what he had gone to do at the hostel mini mart.
“I was unable to plug my phone at the charge station because all the charging stations are fully occupied.”
“Despite having more charging stations, there is no space to plug my phone in. Now I have to wait several hours to be able to charge my phone.”
The plight of Joshua is similar to that of almost all the student occupants of Jubril Aminu hostel. Though the situation is seldom, whenever it rains in Danfodiyo varsity, the residents of the hostel would spend days without traces of electricity in their rooms, shoving them into a pit of darkness and headache to charge their phones, laptops and other accessories.
Just like Joshua Adoja, a Bello Imran, a point of sale(POS) attendant went to charge his phone at the minimart. However, despite the increase in the number of charging stations, he could not secure a spot to plug his charger.
Within Two Weeks, Number Charging Stations Increases
To confirm the agony of the students, this reporter decided to visit the charging stations at the Jubril Aminu hostel mini market.
Two weeks ago, there were only three charging stations in the mini mart. However, after the rain on Friday, the number of stations has now climbed up to five—an indication of the effect of lack of electricity in the hostel whenever it rains.
Despite this increase, this reporter could not secure a space to plug his phone in all the five charging stations. He had to wait for several hours before he eventually found a spot.
Meanwhile, it was observed that there was no unanimity in the prices. Only two of the five shops charge N70 per phone. The remaining three charge the sum of N100.
N70 Per Charge is a Market Strategy
Lukman Waliu, a graduate of Political Science who is waiting to receive his call up letter, is a manager of one of the charging stations in the mini mart which charges N70.
“The CEO of this business is not from this school, but he made me the managing director because of the trust he has for me. And that’s why I have been made the director of this place,” Lukman said.
“As you can see, I’m the only one here, even when prayer time comes, I can’t leave because customers will always bombard me and this makes it impossible for me to have time for myself.”
He said that,”I know we are numerous doing this business, so discounting the price is a market strategy devoid of making customers come to me too.”
Nasir Abdulkadir was a POS attendant but following the blackout in the hostel, he jumped into the charging business.
He made an extra cupboard to aid the business and according to him, he has been excelling.
Nasir said he charge N70 per phone,
instead of the N100 that others charge.
Meanwhile, speaking with the attendant of Bangis charging station where N100 is charged per phone, failed to comment on the differences of the prices.
Still No More Space
Just like a ghost caught between Elmina and Cape coast, Taofeeq Imam, a 300-level student of Political Science and resident of Jubril Aminu hostel wandered around the mini market’s premises.
But the only response he got from all the five charging stations was ‘no more space.’
“It is hectic for me. I don’t even mind the price, I just want to get my phone charged,” Taofeeq said.
The Management is Trying Its Best’– SU President
Speaking with the News Digest Press on Saturday, Muhammad Sanusi, the Students’ Union president of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said the school management is aware of the ordeal of the students and they are trying day and night to proffer a solution.
“The management is trying to make sure that the light is being restored and believe me, very soon you will see the result.”
Meanwhile, just like what the president said, the News Digest Press has confirmed that
The light was restored on Sunday morning.