OAU Closes Campus for Three Weeks After Student Protests

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has announced a three-week closure of its campus effective immediately after students protested against a newly introduced transport system. The protests, which escalated due to concerns over safety and accessibility, led to significant disruptions, including obstructed major access roads and harassment of road users.

The university's Senate approved the closure to allow for further dialogue with stakeholders and to restore normalcy on campus. The protests were organized by the Student Union, which demanded urgent intervention regarding transport challenges linked to delays in the institution's e-portal upgrade.

Students expressed dissatisfaction with the mid-semester evacuation plan for Awolowo Hall, which disrupted course registration access. The transport reform, which included the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, was intended to improve mobility but instead created new difficulties, culminating in the protests that led to the campus shutdown.