OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport

OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport, Welfare and E-Portal Crisis

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has shut down academic activities for a three-week mid-semester break following escalating student protests over transport challenges, welfare concerns, and disruptions linked to the university’s e-portal system.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, who confirmed that the closure was approved by the university Senate after days of unrest on campus. The Senate resolution directed all students to proceed on immediate break as a safety measure. The management explained that the action became necessary after protests over a newly introduced campus transportation system led to the blockage of major access roads within the university and reports of alleged harassment of road users. Authorities said the situation disrupted movement and raised serious safety concerns for students, staff, and the wider university community. According to the university, repeated attempts to engage student leaders and restore order did not fully de-escalate tensions, prompting the decision to suspend academic activities temporarily. Officials added that the break would allow the institution to restore normalcy and prevent further breakdown of law and order on campus.

READ ALSO:

The shutdown follows a large-scale protest organised by the OAU Students’ Union, which mobilised students across campus to demand urgent action on transportation difficulties, accommodation shortages, and administrative delays affecting academic processes. The protest was backed by a resolution passed at a congress held at Awo Café, where students agreed on a peaceful demonstration aimed at compelling the university management to address long-standing welfare concerns.

One of the major triggers of the unrest was the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for intra-campus transportation. Students complained that the system led to long queues, delays, and difficulty accessing different parts of the campus, worsening daily movement and academic punctuality. The transport reform was introduced following the donation of buses by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to improve mobility within the university. However, students argued that the implementation was poorly managed, creating fresh operational challenges instead of solving existing ones.

Beyond transportation, students also raised concerns over disruptions caused by the ongoing e-portal upgrade, which affected course registration, result checking, and other key academic services. There were also complaints about planned evacuation procedures affecting students in Awolowo Hall, further heightening tensions and contributing to the protest movement across campus.

The management said the three-week break will be used to engage stakeholders, including student representatives, to address the grievances raised and develop lasting solutions to the transport and welfare challenges. Authorities assured that academic activities would resume after stability is restored and necessary adjustments are made to improve campus systems and prevent a repeat of the disruption.