By Samuel Faseyitan
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has extended the deadline for students to vacate university-owned halls of residence to Friday, May 1, 2026. The initial quit notice issued on April 28, after the Senate approved a three-week mid-semester break, directed students to vacate their hostels by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
‘All university-owned halls of residence are hereby directed to close all activities as all residents are expected to vacate their respective halls of residence latest by 7.00 am tomorrow, 29th April, 2026,’ the initial notice partly read.
However, after the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D leadership met with the management to reduce the duration of the break, the deadline for eviction was relaxed instead. In a recent message addressed to hall wardens on April 30, the DSA stated that the enforcement of the quit notice should be relaxed till Friday, May 1st, 2026, by 12:00 p.m.
‘As a mark of good gesture, arising from the management meeting with the leadership of NANS SouthWest Zone yesterday, it was decided that we may relax the enforcement of the Quit notice earlier communicated to the occupants of the halls of residence till Friday, 01/05/2026 by 12 noon,’ the release added.
According to the Division, the extension was intended to allow students, especially those from distant locations, sufficient time to prepare.
At the meeting, NANS had demanded, among other things, the immediate restoration of hostel utilities across the halls of residence and the suspension of the abrupt eviction of students.
The new directive, however, still indicates that students are expected to vacate their halls of residence, despite NANS’ intervention and demands.
As of press time, the DSA had not issued a comment regarding the latest eviction notice. Vice Dean Dr L.O. Olasunkanmi, referred all official inquiries to the Dean. However, efforts to reach the Dean, Professor J.A. Odedire, proved abortive.