The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University has directed students to proceed on a three-week mid-semester break following escalating protests over transportation and welfare concerns on campus.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university said the decision was approved by the Senate after demonstrations by students disrupted normal academic activities.
“The Senate of the University has approved that the students proceed on a mid-semester break for a period of three weeks, with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The management explained that the action became necessary after protests over a newly introduced transportation system led to the obstruction of major access roads and raised safety concerns for members of the university community and the public.
It added that despite efforts to engage students and appeal for calm, the situation continued to escalate, prompting the temporary closure.
The break, according to the university, is intended to allow dialogue with stakeholders and restore normalcy on campus. Students were urged to remain law-abiding during the period.
The development follows a protest by the OAU Students’ Union, during which students marched to demand urgent action over transportation challenges, accommodation issues, and disruptions linked to the institution’s e-portal upgrade.
A congress held at Awo Café had earlier approved the demonstration, with the union insisting it would remain peaceful but involve blocking major roads and gates until their demands were addressed.
Students also expressed dissatisfaction with the planned evacuation from Awolowo Hall during the mid-semester period and delays in course registration and result access caused by the ongoing system upgrade.
The unrest was partly linked to challenges arising from the introduction of compressed natural gas-powered buses for intra-campus transportation, which students said resulted in long queues and delays.
The transport initiative followed the donation of buses by Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at improving mobility within the university.
However, students argued that implementation issues created new difficulties, ultimately triggering tensions that led to protests and the subsequent academic break.
The university says it will use the break period to engage stakeholders and resolve the issues affecting campus operations.
