OAU Declares Three-Week Break After Students’ Protest Over Transport and Welfare
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University has directed students to proceed on a three-week mid-semester break following escalating protests over transportation challenges and welfare concerns on campus.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, the institution said the decision was approved by the Senate after demonstrations by students disrupted activities and heightened tension within the campus community.
According to the statement, the break became necessary after protests linked to a newly introduced transportation system led to the obstruction of major access roads and created safety concerns for both students and members of the public. The management noted that despite efforts to engage students and restore calm, the situation had continued to raise concerns.
The university explained that the mid-semester break is intended to allow room for further dialogue with stakeholders and to restore normalcy on campus. Students were also urged to remain law-abiding and avoid actions that could further disrupt peace during the period.
The development follows a large-scale protest by members of the Students’ Union, who marched across campus demanding urgent intervention on transportation difficulties, accommodation challenges, and delays associated with the institution’s e-portal upgrade.
Students, acting on a resolution passed at a congress held at Awo Café, had vowed a peaceful demonstration, insisting that major campus gates and roads would be blocked until their demands were addressed. They also raised concerns over planned hostel arrangements and disruptions linked to academic processes.
Tensions on campus were further heightened by complaints over long queues and delays following the introduction of compressed natural gas-powered buses for intra-campus transport, a system introduced to improve mobility but which students say has created new challenges.
The transport initiative followed the donation of buses by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving movement within the university. However, students argued that implementation issues have led to congestion and delays, ultimately triggering the protest and subsequent shutdown.
The university authorities maintained that efforts are ongoing to engage stakeholders and resolve the underlying issues affecting transportation and student welfare upon resumption.