OAU Students Stranded as New CNG Transport Policy Sparks Campus Crisis
Students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) are grappling with a severe transportation crisis following the implementation of a controversial new policy that has left many stranded and academic activities in disarray. The situation has escalated to a breaking point, with the Students’ Union recently concluding a 72-hour lecture boycott in protest of the hardships, yet the university management has remained largely unresponsive, deepening student frustrations over what they describe as an "unnecessary plight."
Forced Transition to CNG Buses Creates Logistical Nightmare
The core of the grievance stems from the university's mandatory shift to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, coupled with a simultaneous ban on traditional commercial motorcycles, known as okadas, and internal buses. Initially promoted as a move toward a more sustainable campus transport system, students report that the transition has devolved into a logistical nightmare, disrupting daily routines and academic schedules.
A fourth-year student shared his experience, stating, "This is my fourth year in this school, and I have never experienced this type of queue. To meet up with a 9:00 am class, you now have to leave the hostel by 6:00 am. We had a very efficient transport system, and now we are being forced by people who drive private cars to use a system that has proven to be completely inefficient."
Sprawling Queues and Removal of Last-Mile Options
The campus, once known for its relatively fluid transit, has been transformed by sprawling queues at various bus stops. The suspension of motorcycles and the previous commercial bus fleet has eliminated the primary "last-mile" transport option for students residing in far-flung residential halls, exacerbating the crisis and leaving many to trek long distances to reach lecture theatres.
Students expressed deep frustration that their three-day strike failed to yield a concrete reversal or immediate palliative measures from the administration. There is a prevailing sentiment of betrayal across the student community, with many arguing that the introduction of CNG buses should have complemented existing infrastructure rather than replacing it in a manner that disrupts academic life.
Federal CNG Promotion Meets Campus Implementation Challenges
While the federal government has been actively promoting CNG as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol nationwide, its rollout at OAU has become a flashpoint for criticism. Critics highlight that the number of operational CNG units is insufficient to cater to a student population numbering in the tens of thousands, leading to overcrowding and inefficiencies.
As the boycott ends without a resolution, fears of further escalations loom. For now, OAU students remain caught between the university's drive for modernization and the harsh daily reality of transportation woes. Notably, the university management has yet to release an official statement addressing the failure of the CNG rollout to meet campus demand, leaving the crisis unresolved and tensions high.
