Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have commenced a 72-hour lecture boycott in protest against what they described as an inadequate transportation system on campus.
In a statement signed by Adelani David Oluwatoddimu, president of the students’ union government (SUG), on Tuesday, the students said the action followed growing frustration over the newly introduced transport policy.
The union said the university community had, in the past week, been gripped by widespread dissatisfaction after the management overhauled the transport system, restricting movement within the campus to newly introduced compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and tricycles.
The development followed the donation of 80 vehicles by Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, a move the students acknowledged as well-intentioned but poorly executed.
According to the statement, the limited number of vehicles has been unable to meet the needs of over 30,000 students, resulting in long queues, delayed commutes, and increased transportation costs, particularly for those residing in distant off-campus locations.
“While we acknowledge the intention behind this intervention, the reality on the ground has fallen far short of expectations,” the statement reads.
The SUG said it had earlier engaged the university management and the proprietor of the company managing the CNG buses in a bid to address the challenges.
The union noted that during the meeting, it presented evidence, including video recordings and testimonies from students highlighting issues such as insufficient vehicles, ticketing inefficiencies, high costs, and lack of flexibility during emergencies.
It added that the union demanded clarity on operational details, including the number of drivers, route structure, and overall system design, while advocating for a hybrid transport model that accommodates existing alternatives.
Responding, the university management said the system was designed to cater to up to 20,000 students within two hours in a worst-case scenario, with a target waiting time of five minutes during peak periods.
Management described the current challenges as a “teething phase” and assured that additional buses would be procured within the next three months.
It also stated that the CNG buses can switch to petrol when necessary, while noting that earlier battery issues affecting the tricycles had been resolved.
On ticketing, the management said the policy was introduced to improve accountability but admitted that improvements in ticket quality and automation would be implemented in the coming weeks.
Despite the assurances, the students said the situation remains untenable, necessitating the 72-hour lecture boycott to press home their demands.
