The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disclosed that the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) may reduce the recently announced three-week mid-semester break and has agreed to allow students currently residing in hostels to remain on campus.
This follows a high-level engagement between NANS Southwest Zone D and the university management over welfare concerns triggered by the break and fears of forced evacuation.
In a statement issued on Friday by the NANS Southwest Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah, the student body said it intervened after many students were left stranded due to the abrupt announcement.
According to the statement, the university management, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Akinfala Oluropo, agreed to suspend any forced eviction of students from hostels.
“Management agreed that students who are currently on campus and residing in their hostels will be allowed to remain until the official resumption date, recognising that many students were already stranded and unable to secure alternative accommodation within such a limited time,” the statement read.
NANS added that the university also assured students of continued provision of basic utilities throughout the break.
“Management further assured that water and electricity supply will be provided and sustained in all halls of residence housing students who remain on campus throughout the break period,” it stated.
On transportation challenges that sparked the protests, NANS said the management acknowledged the difficulties and pledged improvements.
“Management acknowledged the burden placed on students due to limited campus mobility and agreed to provide additional buses to ease transportation difficulties within the university community,” the statement added.
The student body further revealed that discussions were ongoing regarding the duration of the break, with a proposal to reduce it to one week to be presented before the University Senate for final approval.
On the controversial Awolowo Hall renovation, the university clarified that no work had commenced and assured that adequate notice and proper arrangements would be made before any displacement of students.
“It was further agreed that whenever renovation activities are scheduled to begin, proper planning and adequate notice will be given to affected students, including necessary arrangements to ensure that no student is displaced without structured alternatives,” the statement noted.
The development comes days after OAU directed students to proceed on a three-week break following protests over transportation and welfare concerns. The university had said the decision was necessary after demonstrations escalated into road blockades and raised safety issues.
Students had earlier embarked on a 72-hour lecture boycott between April 14 and April 16, 2026, over transportation challenges affecting academic activities.
The crisis followed the introduction of compressed natural gas-powered buses after about 80 CNG buses and tricycles were donated by Oluremi Tinubu to improve campus mobility. However, students complained of long queues, delays, and restricted movement.
The situation later escalated into mass protests, with students demanding urgent intervention on transportation, accommodation, and disruptions linked to the ongoing e-portal upgrade.
NANS described the latest agreements as a significant step toward restoring stability on campus, adding that it would continue to monitor compliance.
“These commitments represent significant progress toward restoring stability and protecting student welfare within the institution,” the statement added.
Elijah Adeyemi
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