Subsidy Removal: Students Groan Over Transport Fare Hike

Students of higher institutions across the country living on and off the campus are having a rough time commuting to and within the school because of the removal of fuel subsidy that has led to high transport fares.

Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while giving his speech after being sworn in on Monday, announced that fuel subsidy will be removed from petroleum products.

However, the pronouncement which has resulted to a rise in fuel price has led to some of the students missing classes and groaning over its effect on their academic activities, a check by LEADERSHIP has revealed.

The students also expressed pains and frustration over the biting effects of the hardship within the last few days due to the removal of the subsidy.

LEADERSHIP reporters who visited some tertiary institutions in the country observed that moving from one point to the other has become challenging for the students.

For institutions with more than one campus, inter campus transporters have increased fares, leading to the students trekking long distances and missing lectures.

At the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), it was gathered that the KEKE NAPEP operators had doubled the fare for every drop within the campus.

When asked the reason for the increase, a Keke operator who preferred anonymity said the change became necessary given that they were buying fuel at more than N500 per liter.

Also, a 200-level student of Joseph Sarwuan University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who identified himself as Cletus said there is a rise in transport fare on the Campus.

“From my house to North Core where I used to pay N100, Okada is taking N200 now. It is really tough here. I think the general public is in support of the subsidy removal but it was announced in a brutal way without putting in place any precaution.

“I think the federal government should shift the implementation to allow proper planning and also reduce the cost of fuel to allow average Nigerians survive,” he added.