“I Fainted Last Week”: UNILORIN Students Lament 4-Hour Shuttle Queues as Transport Crisis Deepens

UNILORIN students are enduring hours-long shuttle queues under extreme heat—causing fainting, health issues, and academic strain—while the university promises new buses to ease the worsening transport crisis.

Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) are voicing growing frustration over severe transport delays on campus, with many spending up to four hours daily waiting for shuttle buses under intense heat.

A visit on Monday revealed long, winding queues of exhausted students standing in the sun, some sitting on the bare ground, others covering their heads with notebooks or umbrellas to cope with the heat. Off-campus students face this ordeal twice daily — in the morning before classes and again when returning home.

Students, Parents Express Anger and Distress

Parents and students described the situation as unbearable, embarrassing, and harmful to both health and academics.

Odunola Taiye, who had gone to drop her daughter off, said she was moved to tears:

“Honestly, too sad to watch, walai talai. When I went there to drop my daughter, I felt sad and worried. The University of Ilorin should find a solution. Students can collapse from this lineup. I’m sad, too sad and emotional.”

Another student, Bayo Lawal, criticized the university’s reputation:

“Like a village school. Very primitive in the 21st century. ‘Better by far’ indeed.”

Adepeju Olayinka, who witnessed the situation a few days earlier, expressed disbelief:

“When I saw the queue, I was like, ‘whatttt.’ An SUG executive had to create space for me in front because I didn’t come with the car. I could never join the queue. It’s terrible. KWASU is bad too, but UNILORIN is worse.”

Students Speak: “I Fainted Last Week”

Many students were near tears as they recounted their daily struggles.

Zainab Musa, a 200-level student, said the situation had affected both her health and academics:

“Sometimes I leave home by 6:30 a.m. and still miss my 8 a.m. class because of this queue. You stand until your legs shake. I fainted here last week; my friends helped me. This is not life.”

Final-year student Samuel Adebayo described emotional exhaustion:

“I’m mentally tired. Imagine standing for three hours before lectures, then standing again afterward. Many of us reach home around 7 p.m. We don’t even have strength to read.”

Another student, Faith Ogunlade, said she had cried multiple times in the queue:

“The sun is too much, the crowd is too much. You’ll be pushed, shouted at, and still wait for hours. I don’t know how long we can continue like this.”

Azeez, also affected by the delays, said his health is deteriorating:

“I have an ulcer, and staying this long without food is killing me slowly. I’m thinking of deferring a semester. I don’t know if I can cope.”

University Management Responds

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, released a statement on Thursday acknowledging the hardship and praising the students’ patience.

“I appreciate your resilience, maturity, responsiveness, and calmness in the face of these daunting challenges.”

He explained that the park relocation that worsened the transport queues was done for safety and security reasons, not to cause hardship.

The VC assured students that relief is on the way, announcing that additional buses — including 100 Electric Vehicles — are expected to arrive soon.

“While we appreciate that an extra day of this challenge is costly, please be assured that the administration is doing everything within its powers to resolve this matter without further delay.”

READ ALSO: 3rd Class UNIILORIN Graduate Inspires Many With His Achievements

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, LEGIT