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Students of Fourah Bay College (FBC) have expressed frustration over the continued practice of loading five passengers per row in the college bus, a routine they describe as both uncomfortable and unsafe.
Every morning at Model Junction, students queue for the bus, which is often filled beyond its seating capacity. Although each row is designed for four passengers, conductors now squeeze in five, citing financial pressures and high demand.
Mohamed, a bus conductor, explained in an interview with Politico:
“We don’t have a fixed amount that we give to our bosses, we only sell tickets for the day. But we are doing this in the interest of the students, because we cannot leave them standing in the morning when they are rushing for classes. That is why we manage five per row.”
He added that rising fuel costs and maintenance expenses make it difficult to operate the bus with only four passengers per row.
Students, however, say the arrangement is stressful and unsafe. Fatmata Kamara, a second-year Law student, said:
“It is not easy to sit five in one row; sometimes you cannot move your hands properly, and everyone is squeezed. But if you don’t board, you may miss class.”
She added that while the bus is cheaper than motorbikes, overcrowding leaves students exhausted and exposes them to health risks.
Daniel, an Engineering student, warned:
“We understand the conductors are trying to help everyone get to campus. But taking five people per row is not safe. In an emergency, we won’t be able to move easily. The college needs to provide more buses or create a better transport plan.”
Students are urging FBC management to address the issue, arguing that the current fleet cannot accommodate the growing number of commuters. Many continue to use the campus bus despite discomfort, as alternatives commercial motorbikes, private campus taxis, or walking are either expensive, unsafe, or impractical.
Attempts by Politico to reach the university’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Dr. Tonya Musa, were unsuccessful.
The matter now falls under the purview of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, which students hope will intervene to ensure safer and more dignified transport for FBC’s population.
