Students of Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union on Tuesday staged a large-scale protest on campus, calling for urgent intervention over a range of unresolved welfare and academic issues affecting the student body.
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The demonstration, which took place in the early hours of 28 April 2026, saw hundreds of students gather at the institution’s main gate, chanting and marching in a show of solidarity. Video footage circulating online captured the sizeable turnout, with protesters insisting their actions were peaceful and aimed solely at restoring normalcy to campus life.
According to a statement issued by the union leadership, including President Adelani David and General Secretary Habeeb Oke Isa, the protest followed a resolution reached during a congress held on Monday at Awo Café. The union had formally approved the demonstration as a means of pressing home students’ demands.
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“The Students’ Union staged a peaceful demonstration… with the intention to block major roads and gates leading to the campus until our demands are met,” the statement read. It further stressed that the protest adhered strictly to the institution’s long-standing tradition of orderly and non-violent engagement.
Students were urged to participate actively while maintaining discipline, reflecting the union’s commitment to peaceful advocacy despite mounting frustrations.
The protest comes amid growing dissatisfaction over several issues, notably transportation difficulties, accommodation challenges, and disruptions linked to the university’s ongoing e-portal upgrade. Many students have complained of being unable to register for courses or access academic records weeks into the semester.
In a separate statement dated 25 April, the union also rejected plans by the university management to evacuate residents of Awolowo Hall Blocks 7 and 8 mid-semester for renovation. The move was described as ill-timed and lacking adequate provision for alternative accommodation.
Tensions have been further heightened by recent changes to campus transportation. The introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses and tricycles—donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu—was intended to improve mobility. However, students argue that restricting movement to the new vehicles has resulted in long queues and delays across campus.
The protest follows a recently suspended 72-hour lecture boycott held earlier in April, underscoring the persistence of the transport crisis.
Despite the ongoing unrest, the union reiterated its willingness to engage constructively with university authorities but warned that students’ patience is wearing thin. “We cannot continue to watch students suffer unnecessarily,” the statement concluded, adding that responsibility now lies with the university management to deliver immediate and practical solutions.
