By Ikuemonisan Ademibo Julius
Students at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko have expressed frustration over queuing at the campus shuttle bus stop.
The influx of students at the campus shuttle bus stop has led to notable frustrations among the student body.
In an interview with this reporter, Omojola Iretomiwa Gospel, a 400-level student of Public Administration, highlighted the impact of the queue on her academic performance and class participation.
“This experience has been terrible and incredibly inconvenient. Despite living far from school, I used to arrive on time. However, I now struggle to board the shuttle due to the overwhelming number of students,” she explained.
“With exams approaching, how are we supposed to manage this level of hardship? It’s imperative for the school management to address transportation issues promptly. We cannot continue like this.”
Gospel urged the school management to revise the timetable to stagger classes, reducing peak demand at the shuttle stop. Additionally, she called for increased collaboration between the management, student union, and transporters to address the shortage of buses, describing the current situation as dire and disheartening.
However, reports gathered by this reporter revealed that the transportation challenges bedeviling the students took a new turn a few months ago, which has lingered till now.
She noted that it has left a toll on many students, especially the new intakes who are now in dire straits due to the transportation challenges rocking the institution.
Another student who has experienced the transportation challenge is Ogunsola Oreoluwa Hannah, a first-year student of Mass Communication department.
Her words: Adekunle is admitting a huge number of students. There should be provisions as regards important things like this.
She noted that many students trek long distances and are unable to do so comfortably due to health issues.
Similarly, Omotomilola Olarotimi, a 100-level Mass Communication student, expressed concerns about the situation, stating that continued inconvenience could lead to further complications. “I am tired of queuing under the scorching sun because of a cab,” she lamented.
Recalling her experience, she said, “I had a class at Awo Hall at 7:00 AM, so I got to the shuttle stand at around 6:30 AM, expecting to catch a shuttle without too much of a wait. However, when I arrived, I was met with a long line of students already waiting. I waited in line for about 45 minutes, and by the time I was able to board a shuttle, I was already 20 minutes late for class. When I got to the hall, it was already full, so I had to stand outside for the duration of the class.”
Omotomilola urged the school management to address the issue urgently, citing instances of students disregarding proper order while boarding shuttles, leading to injuries. She suggested implementing a revised shuttle schedule and hiring more shuttle drivers to meet student demand efficiently.
Furthermore, she emphasized the need for the school to ensure adequate shuttle availability to prevent students from waiting in long queues.
Obajimi Adeboye Philip, a 200-level student of the Microbiology department, described how queuing for shuttles at the bus stop adds stress to his day and often results in severe physical discomfort.
He highlighted the shortage of buses within AAUA, leading to missed classes and impromptu tests, negatively impacting students’ GPAs. “This delay in reaching lecture rooms often results in missed impromptu tests,” he explained.
Philip urged the school management to increase the number of buses and repair unused ones on campus to alleviate the stress of queuing.
Student Union React
On the other hand, Boladele Olamide Oyindamola, popularly known as Mandela, the student union’s president-elect, emphasized the urgency of addressing the shuttle bus shortage on campus.
“As the AAUASU president-elect, I will collaborate with the university administration and transport authorities to increase the shuttle bus fleet, implement a more efficient scheduling system, and explore alternative transportation solutions,” he stated.
Mandela urged students to prioritize self-care during exams, advising them to plan study schedules, seek support when needed, stay focused and positive, and maintain integrity.
“By addressing transportation challenges and providing guidance and support during exams, we can enhance the overall student experience and academic success of our institution,” he concluded.
