…Projects 70% Cut in Campus Transportation Cost

The excitement was tangible at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Monday December 1, 2025 as the Federal Government officially rolled out its “Renewed Hope Campus Transport Scheme,” a flagship intervention designed to revolutionise student mobility across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The event, which held at the expansive premises of the Academic Publishing Centre, UNILAG marked another significant homecoming for the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, CON, who launched a sweeping initiative aimed directly at cushioning the economic effects of fuel subsidy removal on students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Delivering his address, Dr. Alausa announced the deployment of 240 E-Tricycles and 12 solar-powered charging stations across 12 public universities, covering every geopolitical zone in the country.

“This intervention is anchored on a core principle of the Renewed Hope Agenda: placing the welfare, comfort, and progress of Nigerian students at the centre of national development,” the Minister declared.

For the roll-out phase of the initiative, he listed out the the twelve beneficiary institutions to include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University Kano, Obafemmi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Maiduguri, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Port Harcourt, among others. Each institution will receive 20 E-Tricycles and a fully equipped solar charging station with battery storage to ensure off-grid reliability.

Power to Students’ Feet

In a moment of generosity that many did not see coming, Dr. Alausa declared that the transport initiative would run by a unique ownership model.

“These E-Tricycles are being donated by the Federal Government directly to the Student Union of each beneficiary university”, he stated.

He explained that under a student-centric model, the Student Union of each institution will own, operate, and manage the fleet. This approach, he said, would allow students to set affordable fares and generate revenue for maintenance, thus empowering them with leadership responsibilities. The Minister projected that the initiative would slash intra-campus mobility expenses by over 70%.

“This is Renewed Hope in action: Practical, Measurable, and Impactful,” Dr. Alausa affirmed, signaling a new era of convenience and sustainability for Nigerian students.

Adding to the good news, the Minister announced that the Federal Government has also approved the deployment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to the university. This separate project will include the construction of a CNG station and a free conversion centre at no cost to the university.

“President Tinubu is determined to restore the pride of our tertiary institutions and I am determined to see that come to pass”, the Minister declared.

UNILAG’s Green Revolution

Earlier in her address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS, OON had welcomed the initiative as a perfect alignment with the university’s existing “Green UNILAG” drive. She highlighted track record of University of Lagos with environmental sustainability, noting the successful operation of electric buses which were commissioned earlier in 2025 and which are already projected to cut CO2 emissions by 120 metric tons by year-end.

She was full of appreciation for the Federal Government’s approval for the deployment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to the university, giving the Minister the assurance that “the University of Lagos will make the most of these critical investments.”

A Clean-Energy Future

As the event culminated in the official launch of the initiative, a student representative and President of the Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA), Mr. Bolaji Akinpelu, gave the vote of thanks. He thanked the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Honourable Minister of Education; the Vice-Chancellor for combining to well to deliver on an initiative “that will greatly improve student welfare and mobility on campus”. He assured the minister of the commitment of UNILAG students to make exemplary use of the tricycle and urged him to come back to “come back to you Alma mater with more goodies”.

The message is a clear one: the future of campus mobility in Nigeria is Green and the University of Lagos – just as it is already doing in other frontier initiatives like Artificial Intelligence – is already leading the way.