A cross-section of University of Ilorin community members has appealed to the Kwara State government to consider reintroducing mass transit services on the university route.

This appeal was made by concerned staff and students of the university regarding the transportation challenges they have been facing since the resumption of full activities at the university.

Mr Ahmed Yakub, a Quantity Surveyor at the University’s Works Department, mentioned that the government’s reintroduction of the service would greatly relieve many staff and students who commute from town daily.

He added that numerous staff members with personal vehicles find it challenging to maintain them due to the prevailing economic situation.

Mr. Yakub emphasized that a transport support service is one of the benefits university staff members can derive from the Kwara State government, which derives taxes from their salaries every month.

He also appealed to the Kwara State government to encourage the timely completion and delivery of the Tanke Flyover Bridge project by the contractor, minimizing the daily struggles of the university community.

Mrs Biliqees Mojirayo Abdulganiyu of the University’s Centre for Open and Distance Learning stated that the Kwara State government would favour the university community by reintroducing the transportation scheme, known as ‘Soludero.’ She explained that the salaries of university staff members can no longer cover their transportation costs, and students are also affected due to their parents’ difficulties in the present economic hardship.

Miss Boluwatife Bamidele, a Department of Library and Information Science student, highlighted the insufficient number of privately-owned commercial vehicles on the University route. She expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation, noting that most commercial vehicles shuttle between the campus and Oke-Odo without reaching Tanke before heading back to the campus.

Mrs Hajarat Gambari of the University Health Services urged well-to-do individuals to consider investing in commercial transportation to benefit staff and students. She also appealed to university trade unions to invest in transportation to alleviate the challenges faced by their members.

Mr. Felix Dare Afolabi of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs appealed to the university’s management to reintroduce the transport welfare scheme for staff and students, suggesting that the university could charge a token for the operation and maintenance of the vehicles. Such a scheme, he believed, would bring relief to the university community.

Speaking on the issue, the Sub-Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Kabir Garba, acknowledged the transportation challenges faced by students.

He explained that the university management is exploring all options to alleviate the suffering of students in their daily movement to and from the campus. Dr. Garba, who teaches at the Department of Statistics, mentioned that the Student Affairs Unit had engaged transporters in a meeting on January 18, 2024, to address the challenges, assuring that every effort would be made to make transportation easier for students.