By Obe Anjolaoluwa
Tuesdays in the department are the most time and energy consuming. With three 2-hour classes shoved between 12-6pm, my course mates and I usually have a lot more to complain about than usual. The lecturer rounded up the class a few minutes after 6 and Dayo and I made our way to the car park. The usual queue at the electric bus station had certified that we’d be taking the regular cabs to the campus gate that evening. The ridiculous length of the line sparked up a conversation about the dynamics of the transport system in UNILAG, one which I’d never paid close enough attention to.
Dayo went on about the downsides of the electric buses for the regular cab drivers. A friend of hers shared how her dad, who worked as a cab driver, now struggled to make ends meet due to the decline in demand for the old campus cabs, a situation that eventually led to his departure from the Cab Operator’s Union.
The emergence of the electric buses on campus was an eco-friendly initiative fueled by UNILAG’s already existing “Green Drive,” which prioritizes the reduction of CO₂ emissions on campus. The project was developed by Chart Eco Global Services in partnership with Ogata Global Resources, two companies run by school alumni, and the electric buses were officially launched in UNILAG in December 2024. Following this development, the transportation system on campus changed significantly. With more affordable pricing, a stronger emphasis on environmental sustainability, and positive socioeconomic impacts, it is safe to say that campus mobility has been largely revolutionized for the better.
In addition to this development, the federal government rolled out its Renewed Hope Campus Transport Scheme, a top-priority initiative designed to further revolutionize student mobility across Nigerian tertiary institutions as at the first of December 2025. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, CON, visited the University of Lagos, where he announced the deployment of 240 electronic tricycles and 12 solar-powered charging stations across 12 public universities, inclusive of UNILAG.
According to him, a key feature of this initiative is that the management of the tricycles will be handled by the respective student unions. However, the University of Lagos student union system has faced ongoing challenges: the Students’ Union Government (SUG) has been suspended in recent years, and student leaders along with national student bodies have been pushing for its reinstatement and democratic elections to restore full student governance rights. This situation raises questions about whether the ban on the union will be lifted in time to allow students manage the e‑tricycle system, and if not, who would take charge of their administration.
Overall, these innovations come with undeniable benefits, including more convenient and comfortable seating, reduced transport fares, and environmentally friendly engines. However, as we know, there are two sides to every coin. Due to the high cost of acquiring spare parts, most of which are imported, maintaining these buses is quite expensive. In addition, the hike in electricity tariffs has led to a major increase in electricity bills, further adding to the operational challenges of running the buses, whereas the tricycles are exempt from this issue due to their solar-powered systems. These challenges are also compounded by long lines at the cab parks, which reduce efficiency and affect users’ overall experience.
While many of these challenges have been addressed since the dawn of this initiative, one issue that is often glossed over is the effect which these developments have on the livelihoods of the old campus cab drivers. With the employment of younger drivers for the electric buses and tricycles, the slashed prices, and improved efficiency, we see an erosion in the demand for the services of the old cab drivers. Following the massive increase in cab fare prices, we had already witnessed a significant decline in their use, with students preferring to walk rather than pay the fare. Now, with these new initiatives fully enforced, one question remains: are we gradually witnessing the end of the old campus cabs in UNILAG?
My induction to the press made me realize the importance of gathering information and spreading awareness within the campus community. As I watched the green tricycle move through the new hall bus stop, I thought back to my conversation with Dayo and knew it was time to put my observations into words. Among the many encouraging and motivating talks on writing and campus journalism, one issue stood out to me: the fate of the old campus cab drivers. Their services, once the backbone of campus transport, are now fading as students choose the newer, faster options.
As UNILAG embraces modernization, it is crucial to consider strategies to support these displaced drivers—whether through alternative employment, integration into the new transport system, or other forms of economic assistance. Without such measures, this drive for innovation risks leaving behind a group that was once central to student mobility on campus.
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