OAU students begin 3-day lecture boycott over transportation hitches

By Shina Abubakar

The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, has commenced a 72-hour lecture boycott over hitches experienced in transportation, as the buses donated by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commenced operations.

The university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, had last week appealed to the students’ union leadership to give the management time to resolve issues arising from the deployment of the 50 buses and 30 tricycles for transporting students within the campus.

The union, in a statement issued by the President and Secretary, Adelani David and Habeeb Oke, dated April 13, instructed students to boycott all academic activities from Monday to Thursday, April 16th, 2026.

According to the union, the decision was reached following its one-week observatory mode, and the subsequent joint meeting of the Central Executive Council (CEC), Hall Executive Council (HEC), and the leadership of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).

The students’ leadership added that the current transportation system introduced by the university management has continued to subject students to severe conditions, including inadequate coverage of the campus, persistent shortage of operational tricycles and buses, overcrowding and discomfort and insufficient drivers.

It therefore demands, “provision of more vehicles to cater for the over 35,000 members of the University community. Immediate reintroduction of the existing transport system until more buses are introduced.

“Proper implementation of the new transport system to guarantee adequate, affordable, and reliable intra-campus mobility for all students. Full consultation with the Students’ Union leadership before any further major changes to campus transportation.”

The Students’ Union leadership further disclosed that it will review the situation at the end of the 72-hour boycott, after which, “possible mass protest/march shall be considered if the management fails to address the demands satisfactorily within this period”.