Lagos State University Students And Transportation Problem

For years now, the students of Lagos State University Ojo Campus have been having issues with transportation virtually every day especially during the peak period. 

The situation got worse today, as drivers of commercial buses preferred to go to Iyana Iba for paasengers than stopping at LASU gate because students were not willing to pay the inflated prices of the fare. This resulted into students fighting and forcing drivers to stop at the school gate to carry students.

According to Ganiyu Akinkunmi, a student in the department of transport, “since my 200 level days I have been coordinating the traffic at the LASU Gate, Iba-Igando road, but the thing is we observed that during the peak period, drivers try to inflate the price from 50 naira to 100 naira, 150 and 200 naira and students aren’t willing to pay the amount. For that reason, the drivers and conductors do not like to stop at LASU gate to carry students, they prefer going straight to Iyana Iba where they can carry people at higher prices, being a comrade. It has not been an easy experience for I know what students are actually facing concerning transportation, that is one of the reasons I had to volunteer on most occasion to coordinate the traffic.

Suggesting how the issue can be resolved, he said “I have also been thinking of the possible ways this issue can be addressed, that’s part of the reason I am aspiring for the 30th LASUSU welfare director , we need to dialogue with the state government, His Excellency Jide Sanwolu, who promised all indigenes of Lagos State better Transportation, I believe if we are given the opportunity to dialogue with the governor on how to address this issue, we will show him pictures and videos as evidences, so that he can know that LASU students are suffering. We really need better means of transportation for all LASU student. many at times students are harassed by thugs and robbed while waiting for bus at the bus stop, if we can have Macopolos inside the school, conveying students right from campus to their various destinations, they won’t be able to come inside the school to harass anyone. LASU is a residential campus, we need mobility to move students from one destination to another. 

Another student, Asubairo Muyiwa from school of transport, 300level, suggesting the same as Ganiyu, said, “Presently, the issue LASU students are facing on transportation is very high because most students after classes, end up wasting hours at the school gate for bus. The stress is too much; we need macopolo to convey students from the school gate to their various destinations. Many at times students trek from LASU gate to as far as Iyana school, we are imploring and pleading the to the government to help us out. Speaking on the inflation of prices, he said the inflation of prices can be subsidized if we have government support and private enterprises support by providing macopolo buses because the higher the quantity the lower the prices. We need buses more especially during the peak period, and I cant imagine students facing this kind of issue during exam which is in few days’ time.” 

A female student Oluwadamilola Ayeni, 300 level Faculty of Science, also added that the issue has been occurring frequently and it is very bad because it is kind of defaming the image of LASU, they would be thinking students are thugs but maybe. drivers are fond of inflating the fare and students who can’t afford to pay, end up trekking to far distances from the school. So I am using this opportunity to implore the school management and the student union government to work towards addressing this issue before exams.