OAU Students Face Transport Crisis Despite New CNG Bus Initiative

Students at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife are grappling with severe transportation delays following the school administration’s decision to launch compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

This shift occurred shortly after the Students’ Union concluded a three-day lecture boycott in April 2026, which was organized to protest ongoing mobility issues on campus.

The current transport problems stem from the introduction of 80 CNG-powered vehicles and tricycles donated by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. While intended to boost campus mobility, students argue that restricting travel to these new vehicles has caused significant congestion.

Social media footage shows students waiting in massive lines at bus stops during rush hours, with many expressing frustration over the inefficiency of the new system.

Affected students have taken to platforms like X to voice their grievances, describing the situation as the worst they have experienced in years.

One student noted that the lack of enough vehicles forces them to start their commute hours before class, while others claim the previous transport arrangements were far more reliable.

Adelani David and Habeeb Oke, leaders of the Students’ Union Government, have publicly urged the administration to increase the size of the bus fleet and restore the former transportation system until the new one is fully optimized.

The union leadership emphasized that they were not properly consulted on the policy and warned that if these logistical failures persist, further student protests may be inevitable.