The national leadership of Nigerian students on Saturday, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government, as well as management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to as a matter of urgency, find lasting solution to frequent fuel crisis which appeared to be responsible for crippling of the nation’s economy intermittently.
With particular emphasis on the policy for the removal of fuel subsidy, the students, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged the duo of the federal government and the NNPCL to “take swift and decisive action” that will alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians “before the citizens are pushed to wall”.
NANS in a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and signed by its National Clerk of the Senate, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo pointed out that it is deeply concerned about the prevailing high cost of petroleum and its persistent scarcity across the country despite the regime of the fuel subsidy removal that has brought untold hardships to Nigerians ever a year after its coming into existence.
Odunayo in the statement lamented that the perennial fuel crisis has severely impacted on the welfare and academic pursuits of students, in addition to crippling the economy nationwide.
“It is regrettable that, one year after the removal of subsidy, the fuel crisis has even gone worse and it appears the country is operating under a curse.
“Queues have been a common thing at petrol stations across the country despite the promise by President Bola Tinubu that fuel queues will disappear in the country after the removal of subsidy, but that has not been the case.
“The exorbitant cost of petrol has led to a sharp increase in transportation fares, causing a surge in the prices of essential goods and services. The increased cost of transportation and production is being passed on to consumers, exacerbating the already high cost of living.
“We urge the government to take swift and decisive action to alleviate this pressing issue before Nigerians are pushed to wall,” NANS said.
