Deborah Olabode and Rianat Ademola 

Following the recent mandatory medical registration at Jaja, the University of Ibadan health center, students have been left with no choice but to obtain their Jaja registration cards. This requirement has caused significant disruption, as students have been forced to abandon classes and spend days waiting in long lines. The Jaja card has been made compulsory for both new and returning students after it was discovered that many had not registered with the University Health Service’s Jaja clinic.

This sudden urgency has caused anxiety among freshers and some returning students who are yet to register. Consequently, students are now facing the daunting task of standing in line for hours, sacrificing valuable class time to complete the registration process.

The registration process is notoriously time-consuming and demanding. Students are frustrated with the long waits and bureaucratic hurdles. The clinic’s reputation for poor medical care and its emphasis on patience exacerbate the situation. The registration process, marred by endless queues, reflects this inefficiency.

In a recent announcement on the school clinic website, the administration urged students to complete their Jaja registration immediately. They emphasised that students who do not register with the University Health Service are not fully recognised as bonafide students of the university. Additionally, students without Jaja cards will not receive medical attention under any circumstances. While late registration would attract a fee of ₦1,000 naira for fresh student and ₦2,000 for returning students were also announced.

Furthermore, the university has made the Jaja card a prerequisite for entry into examination halls. This decision has prompted reactions from students, who question the necessity of the card. Many speculate that the measure aims to prevent incidents where students lose consciousness during exams and cannot be given immediate medical attention due to the lack of a Jaja card.

Students are concerned about balancing their academic responsibilities with the demanding registration process. The registration procedure is well known for being stressful. Many returning students who missed their initial registration are now joining the fresh students, which has only  added to the long queues.

Deborah, a first-year English student, voiced her frustration: “I have to start over every day because I have to leave the queue whenever I have a class.” She detailed the process: “We were told to go to a designated x-ray centre or government health centres before going to Jaja. At the x-ray centre, we paid ₦7,000 for the x-ray and ₦3,200 for the medical fee and commission. Then, after two days, the X-ray will be ready. The tests (urinalysis, blood test, and eye test) come next before the Jaja card can be issued.”

Deborah also mentioned that she has only completed the urine and eye tests and still needs to undergo the sick bay test before finishing her registration.

Despite the evident discomfort faced during registration, university hostels have also made the Jaja card a requirement for hostel registration. Many students are still struggling to secure accommodation three weeks into the semester due to this additional requirement.

Rianat, a third-year student, described her ordeal: “My hostel made the Jaja card compulsory for registration, and I had not completed mine. I rushed to the clinic, thinking I would get my card in two days. Alas, it was not so. After paying the medical fee of ₦3,200 naira, I was told I needed another x-ray because the one I had done in my first year expired after six months. That was when I realised the consequences of not registering earlier,” she stated.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her plight, “I knew the next week would be hectic for me because my classes begins fully next week, so I came for registration when I paid my hostel fee, but I was told I needed a Jaja card to register. I don’t know how I will complete the registration in two days. It seems impossible. The registration process has already ruined my week,” she concluded. 

The mandatory Jaja registration has clearly created a significant burden for University of Ibadan students, disrupting their academic schedules and causing a widespread frustration.