The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said the management of Obafemi Awolowo University may reduce the recently announced three-week mid-semester break and has agreed to allow students currently in hostels to remain on campus.
The development followed a high-level engagement between NANS Southwest Zone D and the university management over welfare concerns triggered by the break and earlier fears of student eviction.
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 following the abrupt announcement of the break.
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.
The university also assured students of the continued provision of basic utilities during the break period.
“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,” NANS added.
On transportation challenges, which initially sparked the protest, the student body said the university acknowledged the difficulties faced by students and pledged to improve mobility within the campus by providing additional buses.
NANS further disclosed that discussions were held on the duration of the break, with management agreeing to present a proposal to reduce the break period to one week before the University Senate for consideration.
The university also addressed concerns surrounding the planned renovation of Awolowo Hall, clarifying that no work had commenced and assuring that adequate notice and arrangements would be made before any displacement of students.
The development comes days after the institution directed students to proceed on a three-week break following protests over transportation and welfare issues, which escalated into road blockades and raised safety concerns.
Students had earlier embarked on a 72-hour lecture boycott between April 14 and April 16, 2026, protesting transportation difficulties linked to the introduction of compressed natural gas-powered buses on campus.
The buses, part of a mobility initiative supported by Oluremi Tinubu, were intended to ease movement but instead led to long queues, delays, and widespread dissatisfaction among students.
The situation later escalated into a mass protest, with demands centred on improved transportation, accommodation clarity, and resolution of issues related to the university’s e-portal system.
NANS described the outcome of its engagement with the university management as a step toward restoring stability, adding that it would continue to monitor compliance with the agreed measures.
Credit: ThePunch
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