Obafemi Awolowo University students have begun a 72-hour boycott of lectures over unresolved transportation challenges on campus. The protest, announced by the Students' Union and signed by President Adelani David and Secretary Habeeb Oke on April 13, 2026, started April 16 and will run through April 19. It follows the introduction of 50 buses and 30 tricycles donated by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which the union says have failed to meet student needs. Students cite inadequate vehicle coverage, overcrowding, insufficient drivers, and a shortage of operational tricycles. They are demanding more vehicles to serve the over 35,000 members of the university community, the temporary reinstatement of the previous transport system, full consultation before further changes, and proper implementation of the new scheme. The union will reassess the situation after the boycott and may escalate to a mass protest if demands are not met.
The immediate impact of the OAU transport protest is academic disruption, placing affected students at risk of falling behind as the 72-hour lecture boycott coincides with key academic periods. With over 35,000 students relying on campus mobility, inadequate transport does not only cause discomfort but directly undermines access to education, especially for those in distant halls or with tight class schedules.
This situation reflects a recurring challenge in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where infrastructure upgrades are often rolled out without sufficient consultation or phased implementation. Similar issues have disrupted academic activities at other federal universities during policy shifts in accommodation, exam scheduling, or feeding programs. The demand for inclusive decision-making mirrors long-standing calls by student bodies for greater involvement in governance, particularly around services that directly affect learning outcomes.
Students should document transport gaps systematically and engage through official channels with evidence, while remaining within peaceful protest guidelines to maintain academic and institutional stability.
