Relief has begun to sweep across the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as students and commuters now experience a significant drop in transportation costs following the operational rollout of shuttle buses and tricycles donated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
This development comes months after the high-profile unveiling of the vehicles during a visit by the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, alongside the First Lady, a move that initially drew concern from members of the university community over delays in deployment.
Findings by Ifecityblog Campus Watch confirm that the vehicles are now fully operational within the university, delivering a standardized and subsidized fare system that is already easing daily movement for thousands of students and staff.
Under the new structure, all shuttle movements within the campus now attract a flat rate of ₦100, representing approximately a 50 percent reduction from previous fares. Before the intervention, trips from bus stops to the main gate cost around ₦150, while extended routes to areas such as student halls of residence or the market could rise to about ₦200. Routes like Road 7 Gate similarly attracted fares in the region of ₦200, with commercial motorcycles often charging even higher.
The newly introduced fare system applies strictly within campus boundaries, with operations currently not extending beyond the university environment. Both buses and tricycles are actively running across major routes, improving accessibility and reducing the burden of intra-campus transportation.
The transportation intervention stems directly from the First Lady’s donation of 50 buses and 30 tricycles to support mobility within the university community. While the vehicles were unveiled during the same visit that featured the commissioning of the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre, a separate initiative facilitated through collaboration between the Ooni of Ife and the National Information Technology Development Agency, the shuttle scheme itself is a standalone effort focused specifically on easing transportation challenges on campus.
Students who spoke to Ifecityblog described the fare reduction as both timely and impactful, particularly in the face of rising living costs. Many noted that the flat-rate system brings predictability, fairness, and relief to daily commuting within the expansive campus.
Although the rollout appears to have addressed earlier concerns about delays, attention is now shifting toward sustainability, proper management, and the possibility of future expansion. For now, however, the initiative marks a clear transition from promise to practical impact, delivering measurable relief to the OAU community.
