OAU Shuts Campus for Three-Week After Students’ Transport Protest

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University has directed students to proceed on a three-week mid-semester break following protests over transportation and welfare concerns on campus.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university said the decision was approved by the Senate after student demonstrations escalated.

“The Senate of the University has approved that the students proceed on a mid-semester break for a period of three weeks, with immediate effect,” the statement read.

The management explained that the decision became necessary after protests over a newly introduced transportation system led to the obstruction of major access roads and alleged harassment of road users.

It added that despite efforts to engage students and restore calm, the situation had raised concerns about the safety and welfare of members of the university community and the public.

According to the statement, the break will allow for further dialogue with stakeholders and the restoration of normalcy on campus, while urging students to remain law-abiding during the period.

The development follows a protest by the OAU Students’ Union, where students marched in large numbers demanding urgent intervention over transportation challenges, accommodation issues, and delays linked to the institution’s e-portal upgrade.

A resolution passed at a congress held at Awo Café had approved the demonstration, with the union insisting it would be peaceful but aimed at compelling authorities to act on students’ demands.

Students also expressed dissatisfaction over the planned mid-semester evacuation from Awolowo Hall and disruptions caused by the ongoing e-portal upgrade, which affected course registration and access to results.

The protest was further fuelled by complaints over long queues and delays following the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for intra-campus transportation.

The transport reform followed the donation of buses by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving mobility within the university.

However, students said the implementation created fresh difficulties, leading to tensions that eventually culminated in the protest and subsequent shutdown.