The Students’ Union of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State on Tuesday protested against the inconvenience experienced by students, following the introduction of a new transportation policy in the institution.

The Peoples Gazette gathered that the protest began with students mobilising across the university’s halls of residence before converging on the university’s main entrance at about 7 am.

At the protest scene, students obstructed vehicular movement into the campus, while holding cardboards with inscriptions such as “New system of transportation is not working #NoToOppression; We need a system that works; No to renovation of Awo Hall during session; Save OAU now, fix the transport system; Students are the biggest stakeholders, listen to us.”

A student of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ibijola Oluwatobi, told The Gazette that the demonstration was caused by several displeasing policies and actions by the university management.

She stated that the issues the students were embittered with ranged from “the problematic new transport system, to the order instructing some residents of Awolowo Hall of residence to vacate their hostels during the academic session for renovation after the students have paid for a full session of accommodation.”

Ms Oluwatobi stated, “The new school portal system, the death of one of our medical students due to poor medical attention and response and many more happenings on campus triggered the demonstration.

“The students are asking for a total reversal to our former transportation process. We can hybridise the transport system, where both the old and new system can work hand in hand together. We ask that the Awolowo Hall renovation be suspended until after the session when students will be on break.”

Also speaking, another student from the Faculty of Law, Abdulsomod Ismail, said the newly introduced CNG transportation system in the school brought inconvenience on students, resulting in lateness to classes and delay in mobility during emergency health-related issues. 

“Emergency health l-related issues aren’t usually attended to early, due to the fact that there are no bikes or fast transportation available, to convey anyone with health issues to the health centre,” Mr Abdulsomod said.

Earlier, on Monday, the union’s President and Secretary General, Adelani David and Habeeb Isa respectively, in a statement announced that the students’ body resolved to stage a peaceful demonstration, blocking “major roads and gates leading to the campus until (students) demands are met.”

The union explained that the demonstration was agreed upon to demand the provision of sufficient vehicles for public use in the university, as well as oppose a proposed renovation plan by the university management to evict residents occupying Block 7 and 8 of the Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence.

In response to the students’ demonstration, the institution’s management convened a “special Senate meeting” to be held at the Main Conference Hall, ICT Park, within the institution to discuss the current situation on campus.

The copy of the notice of the Senate meeting, obtained by The Gazette was signed by the school’s principal assistant registrar, Isaac Aronkola.

Contacted for further comments, the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, did not respond to calls made to his mobile and a text message sent as of the time this report was filed.