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OAU Students Begin 72-Hour Lecture Boycott Over Transport Crisis

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Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University

OAU Students Begin 72-Hour Lecture Boycott Over Transport Crisis

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University have commenced a 72-hour lecture boycott over what they describe as an “inadequate and poorly implemented campus transportation system,” disrupting academic activities across the institution.

The protest, scheduled from April 14 to April 16, 2026, was declared by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) following a congress held on April 9 and subsequent leadership deliberations, amid mounting frustration over mobility challenges on campus.

In a statement jointly signed by SUG President, Adelani David, and Secretary-General, Habeeb Oke, the union directed all students to suspend academic activities during the period.

“The union shall embark on a total 72-hour lecture boycott… All academic activities are to be boycotted throughout this period,” the statement read.

The students said the decision followed weeks of persistent transport difficulties, which they claim have significantly disrupted lectures, examinations, and general movement within campus.

At the centre of the controversy is the university’s new transport policy tied to vehicles donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. The intervention involved the provision of about 80 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and tricycles aimed at improving mobility for students and staff.

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However, the SUG argued that the rollout has instead worsened commuting conditions. Students cited insufficient vehicles, overcrowding, long queues, extended waiting times, and poor route coverage as major challenges under the new system.

The union also criticised the university’s decision to restrict intra-campus transport to the newly introduced vehicles, noting that the removal of previously available commercial transport operators has further limited options.

According to the students, the situation is particularly difficult for those living off-campus, who now face fewer and more expensive alternatives outside the university’s transport network.

Despite several engagements with the university management, the SUG said there has been no immediate relief. Authorities reportedly described the challenges as part of a transitional “teething phase,” while promising that more buses would be deployed in the coming months to improve efficiency.

The students, however, insist that the current conditions are unsustainable for a campus population estimated at over 35,000, prompting the boycott as a form of pressure.

Among their demands are the deployment of additional buses, temporary reinstatement of the previous transport system, and the inclusion of student representatives in transport policy decisions.

They also called for a more flexible, hybrid transport model that accommodates both university-operated vehicles and private operators to ensure seamless mobility within and around campus.

The union warned that failure by the university management to address these concerns within the 72-hour window could trigger a larger protest.

“The leadership shall review the situation at the end of the boycott. Further actions such as a possible mass protest or march will be considered if our demands are not met,” the statement added.

The development highlights growing concerns about campus transportation in Nigerian universities, with stakeholders stressing that efficient mobility is essential for academic productivity and student welfare.

OAU Students Begin 72-Hour Lecture Boycott Over Transport Crisis

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Education

25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

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25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme
25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

Twenty-five federal tertiary institutions have been connected to solar electricity under the Rural Electrification Agency’s (REA) Energizing Education Programme.

The REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during the commissioning of a 3MW captive solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.

According to Aliyu, the programme covers 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals and has deployed more than 100MW of clean energy.

He said the initiative now benefits over 300,000 students and 50,000 academic and administrative staff.

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Aliyu added that the new 3MW facility would power key university facilities, including lecture halls, laboratories, ICT systems, administrative buildings and campus lighting.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power Joseph O. Tegbe said reliable electricity was essential to supporting teaching, research, healthcare and digital services in universities.

He stressed that the long-term performance of the solar projects would be more important than their commissioning.

Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, also said dependable electricity was critical to the institution’s academic and research activities.

25 Universities, Teaching Hospitals Get Solar Power Under REA Programme

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Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools

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Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools

Basic education officials deliver modern classrooms to help children learn safely, kicking off an ambitious statewide renovation drive.

State education leaders in Niger State are calling on neighborhood residents and parent groups to take good care of newly renovated primary schools.

On Wednesday, the head of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Ibrahim A. Liman, reminded communities that public classrooms belong to everyone, warning that state funding can only make a lasting difference when local people watch over these shared spaces.

To prepare for handing over the keys, board officials visited Zango Primary School in Kontagora and Richard Lander Primary School in New Bussa. These two locations are the first to finish out of seven model schools currently under construction.

During their visits, team members inspected classrooms to make sure builders followed high safety standards, while encouraging neighbors to keep the grounds secure, tidy, and ready for pupils.

Furthermore, state officials explained that these building projects are part of a larger plan to improve early education across every community. Alongside these new classrooms, the board is starting repair work on about 400 primary schools throughout the state.

In addition to fixing desks and roofs, authorities are upgrading classroom teaching tools and supporting teachers. As a result, children across all backgrounds will have safe, welcoming spaces to learn and grow together.

 

Niger State Urges Local Communities to Protect Newly Completed Public Schools

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LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike

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ASUU Crisis Deepens: Lagos Universities Join UNIBEN, Taraba on Indefinite Strike
LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike

Students at three Lagos State-owned universities are facing an indefinite interruption of academic activities after ASUU declared a strike over unresolved demands.

LASU, LASUED and LASUSTECH are affected by the industrial action announced by the union’s Joint Campus Group.

ASUU said it had given the Lagos State Government 14 days from August 31 to address its concerns. According to the union, the deadline expired without a concrete plan or meaningful dialogue.

The union had also issued a final warning on September 10, but said the September 13 deadline passed without talks.

Its main demand is for Lagos State to domesticate and implement the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement across the three institutions.

ASUU also wants the implementation of welfare provisions, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for serving and retired academic staff.

The union said the strike would continue until negotiations produce a satisfactory outcome. It also urged students and parents to remain calm.

While the dispute has led to a fresh shutdown in Lagos, another ASUU branch has suspended its strike in Plateau State.

The Plateau State University branch reached an agreement with the state government on issues including the 2025 agreement, outstanding arrears, staff accommodation and other demands. Members are expected to return to academic activities from midnight on September 16.

Meanwhile, ASUU at Taraba State University has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the Taraba State Government. The notice runs from September 14 to September 28 and concerns outstanding provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

 

LASU, LASUED, LASUSTECH Shut as ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike

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