OAU Students Declare 72-hour Lecture Boycott Over Campus Transport Crisis

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have declared a 72-hour lecture boycott in protest against what they described as an inadequate and poorly implemented campus transportation system.

The boycott, scheduled to run from Tuesday, April 14 to Thursday, April 16, 2026, was announced by the Students’ Union Government following a congress held on April 9 and subsequent meetings of its leadership.

In a statement co-signed by the Students’ Union President, Adelani David, and Secretary-General, Habeeb Oke, the union said the decision was reached after weeks of frustration over mobility challenges on campus.

“The union shall embark on a total 72-hour lecture boycott starting from Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to Thursday, April 16, 2026. All academic activities are to be boycotted throughout this period,” the statement read.

The students said the newly introduced transportation arrangement had worsened commuting conditions across campus, citing inadequate vehicles, overcrowding, long waiting times and limited route coverage.

According to the union, the situation has been particularly difficult for students residing off-campus, who now depend on fewer and more expensive transport options outside university control.

They added that several engagements with the university management had yet to produce immediate relief, despite assurances that the system was still undergoing a “teething phase.”

Among their demands, the students called for the provision of additional vehicles to cater to the university’s population of over 35,000 students, the temporary reinstatement of the previous transport system, and greater consultation with student leaders before further policy decisions.

They also advocated a hybrid and more inclusive transport model that reflects the realities of student movement within and around the campus.

The union warned that failure to address its demands within the 72-hour window could lead to an escalation of actions.

“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,” the statement added.

The development follows the recent donation of 80 compressed natural gas buses and tricycles to the university by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to improve campus transportation.

Following the donation, the university management restricted intra-campus movement to the newly introduced vehicles, a move initially seen as a modernisation effort.

However, students say the policy has resulted in operational challenges, including long queues, delays and insufficient fleet availability, especially during peak hours.

The union also expressed concern over the exclusion of commercial transport operators who previously serviced parts of the campus, noting that the decision had further limited mobility options.

While the management had reportedly described the situation as a transitional phase and promised to introduce more buses in the coming months, students insist that current conditions remain difficult.