Academic activities at Obafemi Awolowo University are set to be disrupted following a planned lecture boycott by students protesting changes to the institution’s transport system.
The action, scheduled to last for 72 hours from Tuesday, April 14 to Thursday, April 16, 2026, emerged after a series of meetings between student leaders and stakeholders over mobility challenges on campus.
The Students’ Union Government confirmed the decision after deliberations at a congress held on April 9, citing unresolved concerns linked to recent transportation reforms.
In a statement jointly signed by union president Adelani David and secretary-general Habeeb Oke, the leadership directed students to withdraw from all lectures during the protest period.
“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 protest centres on the university’s transport restructuring, introduced after the donation of buses and tricycles intended to improve movement within the campus.
The initiative, supported by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, led to a policy restricting intra-campus transport operations to the newly provided vehicles.
However, students reported that the transition has created operational gaps, resulting in delays, overcrowding, and limited coverage across key routes.
The student union representatives stated that the current arrangement has reduced commuting efficiency, particularly during peak academic hours when demand is highest.
“The transportation system as presently operated has led to long queues, insufficient vehicles, and extended waiting times,” the union noted.
Students residing outside the campus were said to be among the most affected, as alternative transport options have become fewer and more costly.
The union also raised concerns about the exclusion of former commercial transport operators, which it said had previously complemented campus mobility.
Despite engagements with university management, students said proposed improvements had yet to materialise, with authorities describing the situation as a temporary adjustment phase.
The students also revealed that the institution’s management had reportedly assured that additional buses would be introduced over time to ease the pressure on the existing system.
Among the demands presented by the union are the immediate deployment of more vehicles, reinstatement of previous transport options pending improvements, and broader consultation with students on future policies.
The union added that it would reassess the situation at the end of the boycott and warned that further actions, including a mass protest, could follow if concerns remain unaddressed.
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