The Ogun State Police Command has restored calm to the Carpark C section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State chapter, staged a protest that briefly disrupted traffic on Monday.
The students blocked the highway to express their frustration over alleged mismanagement of student loan funds and the deteriorating state of the education sector. Their grievances included a lack of transparency in the disbursement of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) loans, the rising cost of tuition, and poor learning conditions in tertiary institutions across the country.
In a statement on Monday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed that the protest was peaceful and resolved through dialogue.
“No incidents of violence were reported. The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, personally engaged the students, urging calm and assuring them that their concerns would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities,” Odutola said.
She added that the students agreed to end the protest and reopen the expressway after receiving assurances from the commissioner.
“Following the engagement, the students voluntarily dispersed and proceeded to the State Command Headquarters at Eleweran for a scheduled meeting with the CP on how to pursue their advocacy through formal and structured channels,” she stated.
The Ogun State Police Command restored order Monday after students blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The protest occurred at the Carpark C section, causing a brief disruption in traffic flow. All the protesters were members of NANS, Ogun State chapter.
They stormed the streets demanding better handling of student loan funds and education reforms. They criticized the mismanagement of TETFund loans and poor learning conditions. In addition to those, they also protested rising tuition fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Dialogue Ends Protest Peacefully
According to police spokesperson Omolola Odutola, the protest remained peaceful. She confirmed there were no reports of violence or arrests. She also said Police Commissioner Abiodun Alamutu personally engaged with the students. He urged calm and promised to forward their concerns to higher authorities.
Following this meeting, the students voluntarily ended the protest. They cleared the road and reopened the expressway to traffic. Then, they proceeded to the State Command Headquarters at Eleweran. They had a scheduled meeting with the Commissioner of Police. Odutola explained that the meeting aimed to promote formal advocacy methods. She emphasized that student concerns will be addressed through structured channels.
The protest ended without incident and with mutual understanding. Authorities commended the students for their cooperation and peaceful conduct.
