The return of academic activities in some major universities across the Southwest, including Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and Osun State University (UNIOSUN) campuses in Osogbo and Ikire, was preceded by widespread travel disruptions on Saturday, January 4, 2026, as severe traffic congestion in Lagos and a breakdown in intercity transport left hundreds of students mostly fresh 100-level undergraduates stranded and frustrated.
Contrary to a general resumption across all institutions, the disruption primarily affected students whose universities scheduled academic activities to resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. Many of these students had planned to arrive on campus over the weekend to settle into hostels, complete registration formalities and acclimatise before lectures commenced. Instead, they were confronted with an unexpected transport crisis that derailed carefully laid plans.
In Lagos, students described a day-long nightmare navigating gridlocks on major exit corridors such as Ikorudu, Ojota–Berger, Oshodi–Apapa, Iyana-Ipaja and Agege Motor Road. Several fresh students interviewed said they left their homes as early as 4:30 a.m. but were still stuck in traffic hours later. Sadiq Lawal, a newly admitted OAU student, recounted that he departed Alimosho at dawn but did not reach Berger until almost noon. “By the time we got there, all buses going to Ile-Ife had already left. Drivers said they could not wait because of traffic,” he said.
At major Ibadan motor parks including Ojoo, Iwo Road, and Challenge, the situation became more distressing. Students arrived at the parks as early as 5:00 a.m., only to be told repeatedly that no buses were available for Ile-Ife, Osogbo or Ikire. Transport officials attributed the shortage to fuel costs, poor road conditions and reduced willingness of drivers to make long trips during peak congestion periods.
Many of the affected travellers were first-time university students making independent intercity journeys for the first time. Blessing Akinwale, a 100-level student of UNIOSUN, Osogbo, said she arrived at Iwo Road motor park before sunrise with high hopes of reaching campus early. “We were there very early, but buses were not coming. Drivers kept saying ‘maybe later.’ As a new student, it was scary and confusing,” she said.
For students heading to OAU, Ile-Ife, the frustration was compounded by the scarcity of direct buses from Ibadan. Some were advised to take indirect routes through Osogbo or Gbongan, while others were asked to wait indefinitely. Kehinde Ogun, an OAU freshman, said many students considered hiring taxis at exorbitant rates. “Some drivers were asking for amounts we could not afford. We just wanted to get to campus before resumption,” he said.
In Osogbo, students who managed to arrive late on Sunday encountered yet another layer of difficulty. Commercial vehicles operating within the city were limited, and transport fares to the UNIOSUN main campus had increased sharply. Samuel Ojo, a newly admitted student, said a journey that typically cost ₦300 was now ₦700. “We had already spent so much getting here. The extra cost made everything more stressful,” he explained.
The situation in Ikire, home to the UNIOSUN Ikire Campus, was marked by a severe shortage of buses serving the route. Students said that only a limited number of commercial vehicles were available, leaving many stranded despite arriving at motor parks as early as 5:00 a.m. Rukayat Ahmed, a 100-level student, explained that the challenge was the lack of buses heading toward Ikire. “There were hardly any buses going in that direction. We waited for hours, hoping one would come. Some drivers told us they were not loading for Ikire at all because there were not enough buses available,” she said.
Parents who accompanied their wards to motor parks expressed deep concern over the recurring nature of the problem. Mr. Tunde Falade, interviewed at Iwo Road terminal 1 in Ibadan, said the experience was disappointing. “This happens almost every resumption period. Authorities know students will be travelling, yet transport planning remains poor,” he said, calling for better coordination between transport unions and government agencies.
Transport union officials, however, pointed to systemic challenges beyond their immediate control. A park official in Ibadan explained that rising fuel prices, frequent highway extortion and vehicle maintenance costs had discouraged many drivers from operating long-distance routes. “Some drivers feel it is not worth the risk anymore, especially on days with heavy traffic,” he said.
An education expert, Mr Feranmi Ogunrotimi warns that such chaotic travel experiences can have lasting effects on fresh students. According to guidance counsellors, the stress of resumption-day travel especially for students leaving home for the first time can affect emotional stability, concentration and early academic performance. They argue that smoother resumption logistics are essential for student well-being.
By Sunday evening, many students were still weighing difficult options: waiting indefinitely at motor parks, seeking costly private transport, or arriving late on campus. Several student leaders said they had begun documenting the situation to present to university authorities. “No student should be punished for circumstances beyond their control,” a UNIOSUN student representative said.
As academic activities begin in select institutions today, many students are expected to arrive late, not out of negligence but due to transport failures that disrupted resumption plans. The events of January 4, 2026, once again expose the fragile state of intercity transportation in Nigeria and the urgent need for coordinated planning especially during critical academic periods for students taking their first steps into higher education.
