Academic activities at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife have been disrupted following a 72-hour lecture boycott declared by students over a worsening campus transportation crisis linked to newly introduced buses.
The protest, which began on April 14, 2026, was organised by the Students’ Union Government in response to what it described as an “inadequate and poorly implemented” transport system tied to vehicles donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
The union directed students to suspend all academic activities for three days, warning that further action, including mass protests could follow if their demands are not addressed.
According to student leaders, the introduction of the new system has significantly disrupted mobility across the expansive campus, affecting lecture attendance and daily routines.
They cited key challenges including insufficient buses and tricycles, overcrowding, long waiting times, and poor route coverage.
The crisis follows the deployment of about 80 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and tricycles donated to improve campus transportation. However, students say the situation deteriorated after the university restricted movement to the new system while phasing out existing transport options.
“The union shall embark on a total 72-hour lecture boycott… All academic activities are to be boycotted throughout this period,” the student leadership said in a statement.
Students argue that the policy has disproportionately affected those living off-campus, many of whom now face higher transportation costs and extended commuting times due to limited alternatives.
They also criticised what they described as insufficient consultation with student representatives before implementing the changes.
Among their demands are:
– Immediate provision of more buses to serve the over 35,000 students
– Temporary reinstatement of the previous transport system
– Greater involvement of student leaders in decision-making
University authorities have reportedly described the current situation as a “teething phase” and assured that additional vehicles will be introduced to improve efficiency.
However, students insist that the current conditions have already taken a toll on academic engagement, forcing many to miss lectures or spend hours navigating the campus.
The development underscores a growing concern in Nigerian higher education: how infrastructure and policy implementation gaps can undermine well-intentioned interventions.
While the donation of transport vehicles was initially seen as a major welfare boost, the unfolding situation at OAU highlights the risks of reform without adequate planning, stakeholder engagement, and scalability.
As the boycott continues, attention is now on whether university management can resolve the crisis swiftly to restore normal academic activities and prevent further escalation.
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