Following widespread student protests over the transportation and welfare crisis, OAU closed its campus for three weeks.

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University has mandated that students take a three-week midterm break in response to protests about transportation and welfare issues on campus.

In response to growing student demonstrations about transportation issues, welfare concerns, and delays in the university’s e-portal system, the administration of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) declared a three-week midterm break.

The Senate accepted the decision as student demonstrations grew more intense, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the university’s public relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju.

“The University Senate has approved that the students proceed with a mid-semester break for a period of three weeks, with immediate effect.” According to the statement.

The administration said that the action was necessary because protests over a freshly installed transportation system had blocked major access roadways and harassed drivers.

“The situation has continued to pose concerns for the safety and well-being of members of the University community and the public, despite efforts to engage and appeal for calm,” the statement read.

The university encouraged students to follow the rules during the vacation, claiming that it would give time for stakeholder discussions and the return of normalcy to campus.

The development follows a protest organised by the OAU Students’ Union in which a large number of students marched to demand prompt action on delays pertaining to accommodation, transportation, and the school’s e-portal upgrade.

A congress meeting at Awo Café had decided in favour of the union’s insistence that the demonstration would be nonviolent and centred on restoring normal conditions for students.

According to the resolution, “the demonstration shall be conducted peacefully… with the intention of blocking major roads and gates leading to the campus until our demands are met.”

Students also condemned the current e-portal overhaul, which they claimed interfered with course registration and results access weeks into the semester, and the scheduled midterm evacuation from Awolowo Hall.

The protest was sparked by complaints about long lineups and delays following the introduction of compressed natural gas-powered buses for intra-campus transit.

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