Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have threatened to embark on a mass protest if the school management fails to address their demands following a 72-hour lecture boycott over what they described as an inadequate and poorly implemented campus transportation system.
This resolution was announced in a statement issued by the Students’ Union Government after a congress held on April 9 and subsequent joint meetings of its leadership.
The statement, co-signed by the union president, Adelani David, and secretary-general, Habeeb Oke, said the decision followed weeks of mounting frustration over mobility challenges that have disrupted academic activities and daily 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 said the new transportation arrangement had worsened commuting conditions across campus, citing insufficient vehicles, overcrowding, long waiting times, and poor route coverage.
According to the union, the situation has been particularly difficult for students living off campus, who now rely on limited and more expensive alternatives outside the university’s control.
They added that repeated engagements with the management had yet to yield immediate relief, despite assurances that the system was still in a “teething phase.”
Speaking with PUNCH Metro via WhatsApp, Oke said the new transport system could not cater to over 35,000 students, in addition to staff, traders at the campus market, and daily visitors.
He also noted that transport fares had risen to about N150 from the previous N100, worsening the burden on students.
However, he stressed that the core issue remained the lack of a functional and reliable transport system, as well as the absence of effective measures to ease students’ hardship.
Among their demands are the provisions of more vehicles to serve the student population, the reinstatement of the previous transport arrangement pending improvements, and full consultation with student leaders before further policy changes.
The union also called for a more inclusive and hybrid transport model that reflects the realities of movement within the campus and surrounding communities. It warned that failure to address its concerns within the 72-hour window could lead to an escalation of the protest.
“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
Source: Punch