By Ghazali Ibrahim
Academic activities at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, are set to be disturbed as students commence a 72-hour lecture boycott from Tuesday, April 14 to Thursday, April 16, 2026, in protest against changes to the institution’s transport system.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) announced the action following a congress held on April 9, after a series of engagements with university authorities and other stakeholders failed to resolve concerns over mobility on campus. In a statement signed by union president Adelani David and secretary-general Habeeb Oke, students were directed to withdraw from all lectures throughout the protest period.
The dispute centres on a recent transport restructuring introduced after the donation of buses and tricycles, an initiative backed by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving movement within the university. Under the new policy, intra-campus transport operations were restricted to the newly provided vehicles, effectively sidelining previous commercial operators who had complemented the system.
However, students say the transition has exposed major gaps, including insufficient vehicles, long queues at bus stops, overcrowding, and extended waiting times, especially during peak academic hours. The situation has reportedly worsened for students residing off-campus, who now face limited transport options and rising commuting costs.
The union noted that despite repeated dialogues, proposed improvements by the management have yet to materialise, with authorities describing the current challenges as part of a temporary adjustment phase. While the university has reportedly assured that additional buses will be deployed over time, students insist the existing arrangement has significantly reduced commuting efficiency across key routes.
Among its demands, the union is calling for the immediate introduction of more vehicles, the temporary reinstatement of former transport operators to ease pressure on the system, and broader consultation with students before implementing future transport policies.
The SUG stated that it will review the situation at the end of the boycott, warning that further actions, including a mass protest, may be taken if its demands are not addressed.
