After months of complaints, protests, and growing frustration among students, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has reinstated the popular Towngboro transport system under a new regulatory framework aimed at addressing the transportation challenges that have disrupted campus life since the beginning of the Rain Semester of the 2024/2025 academic session.
The decision follows a prolonged transportation crisis triggered by the university’s transition from the long-established Towngboro buses and motorcycles to a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and solar-powered tricycles. While the initiative was introduced as part of efforts to modernise campus transportation, many students complained that the available vehicles were insufficient to serve the university’s large population.
For several weeks, students endured lengthy queues at bus stops, often standing for extended periods under intense sunlight or heavy rainfall while waiting for transportation. The situation generated widespread dissatisfaction and eventually led to organised actions by the Students’ Union.
The crisis reached a climax in April when the Great Ife Students’ Union announced a 72-hour lecture boycott in protest against the transportation difficulties confronting students. The union subsequently organised a campus-wide protest, drawing attention to what many described as a major disruption to academic activities and student welfare.
Amid mounting pressure, the university recently approved the return of 50 Towngboro buses to complement the existing transportation system. The development has been welcomed by many students who believe it will significantly ease mobility challenges on campus.
Speaking on behalf of the Towngboro operators, a union member, Mr. Owofade Bamidele, popularly known as Ojebuke, explained that the transport service had operated within the university community for decades before the introduction of the new transport arrangement.
According to him, members of the union initially believed that the 50 CNG buses and 30 solar-powered tricycles donated to the university by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator , would complement rather than replace their operations. He noted that the operators were surprised when management moved to phase out their services earlier than expected.
Bamidele disclosed that discussions between the union and the university only resumed after the transportation challenges generated significant concern among students. He added that the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, , helped facilitate negotiations that eventually resulted in the partial return of the buses.
Under the new arrangement, Towngboro buses are restricted to designated routes linking the town and the university’s Central Market area. Drivers are also required to comply with specific operational guidelines aimed at improving orderliness and commuter safety.
Providing insight into the university’s position, the Vice-Dean of the Division of Student Affairs, Dr. Lukman Olasunkanmi, explained that management had not abandoned its commitment to restructuring campus transportation. Rather, he said the reintroduction of the buses was part of efforts to create a more organised and accountable system.
He revealed that all approved Towngboro operators have now undergone registration and documentation, including the submission of personal details, photographs, and vehicle information. Each bus has also been assigned a unique identification number to improve monitoring and accountability.
According to Olasunkanmi, the buses are now required to operate strictly within approved routes and designated bus stops. Operating hours have also been fixed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., while drivers found engaging in misconduct, including aggressive behaviour towards passengers or alcohol consumption while on duty, risk immediate expulsion from the transport scheme.
Further explaining the university’s plans, Secretary of the Transportation Management Committee, Dr. Mike Awoleye, said management is closely monitoring the performance of the revised system before deciding whether additional Towngboro buses will be permitted on campus.
Awoleye disclosed that efforts are also underway to strengthen intra-campus transportation through the deployment of more tricycles. He noted that some of the existing tricycles had developed technical faults but would soon be replaced as new units arrive.
The Students’ Union Transportation Management Committee Chairman, Honourable Adebisi Adeyinka Samuel, popularly known as Hicon, described the current arrangement as an attempt to combine the strengths of both the old and new systems. According to him, procuring additional buses is not a simple process, making the reintegration of Towngboro operators a practical short-term solution.
Many students who spoke on the development expressed satisfaction with the reduction in waiting times at bus stops. Several off-campus students reported that commuting between town and campus has become considerably easier since the buses resumed operations.
However, concerns remain regarding transportation within the campus itself. Students residing in halls of residence and private hostels complained about the limited number of tricycles available during peak hours, particularly in the mornings when many are rushing to lectures.
Despite these concerns, the return of the Towngboro buses has generally been received positively by members of the university community, who view it as a significant step toward resolving one of the most pressing welfare issues affecting students in recent months.
As OAU management continues to monitor the effectiveness of the revised transport arrangement, students remain hopeful that further improvements will be introduced to guarantee reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation across the sprawling university campus.
