Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have announced a 72-hour boycott of lectures in protest against what they described as an inadequate and poorly implemented campus transportation system linked to buses donated by the First Lady of Nigeria.
The boycott is scheduled to run from Tuesday, April 14 to Thursday, April 16, 2026, following resolutions reached at a Students’ Union congress held on April 9 and subsequent meetings of its leadership.
In a statement jointly signed by the Students’ Union President, Adelani David, and Secretary-General, Habeeb Oke, the union said the action followed weeks of unresolved concerns over mobility challenges affecting academic activities and student movement on campus.
“The union shall embark on a total 72-hour lecture boycott starting from Tuesday, 14th April 2026, to Thursday, 16th April 2026. All academic activities are to be boycotted throughout this period,” the statement read.
The students faulted the new transport arrangement, citing insufficient vehicles, overcrowding, long waiting times, and poor route coverage across campus.
They noted that students residing off-campus have been particularly affected, as they are now forced to depend on limited and more expensive transport options outside the university system.
According to the union, repeated engagements with the university management had yet to yield immediate relief, despite assurances that the system was undergoing a “teething phase.”
Among their demands are the provision of additional vehicles to serve the over 35,000 student population, reinstatement of the previous transport arrangement pending improvement, and full consultation with student representatives before further policy decisions are taken.
The union also called for a more inclusive and hybrid transportation model that reflects the realities of student movement within and around the campus.
It warned that failure to address its demands within the 72-hour window could lead to further action, including a possible mass protest or march.
“The leadership shall review the situation at the end of the 72-hour boycott. Further actions such as a possible mass protest or march shall be considered if the management fails to address the demands satisfactorily within this period,” the statement added.
The development follows the donation of 80 compressed natural gas buses and tricycles to the university by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving transportation for students and staff.
The university management had restricted intra-campus movement to the donated vehicles, a decision initially welcomed but later criticized by students over operational challenges, including delays, long queues, and limited availability during peak periods.
The Students’ Union also expressed concern over the exclusion of commercial transport operators who previously served parts of the campus, saying the development had further reduced mobility options.
University authorities have, however, described the current situation as a transitional “teething phase,” assuring that additional buses would be introduced to improve efficiency in due course.
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