NANS wants NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO to reduce transport fare

Worried about the continuous rise in transportation costs, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded an immediate reduction in transport fares from unions and operators, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

In a statement signed by NANS Senate Clerk Oladimeji Uthman on Tuesday, the association stated that transportation costs should decrease following the recent reduction in petroleum prices.

NANS lamented that the increase in transport fares has made it difficult for Nigerian students to return to their various institutions after celebrating the festive season with their families.

The association also urged the Federal Government to take decisive action to regulate and enforce reasonable transportation costs as students head back to their campuses. Additionally, NANS requested a one-week extension of the transport palliative initiative for the benefit of Nigerian students.

NANS has warned that it will protest nationwide if the increase in transportation fares is not reversed.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), representing millions of Nigerian students across the globe, is deeply troubled by the exploitative and insensitive increase in transportation costs at this verge of time. This is happening despite the Federal Government’s recent reduction in fuel prices, a measure that should ordinarily result in a significant reduction in transportation fares.

“As Nigerian students prepare to return back to their various campuses across the country, we are particularly affected by the sharp rise in transportation costs at various motor parks. Many of our members rely on affordable transportation to travel back to their institutions after the Yuletide period, but instead, they are being subjected to unconscionable price hikes that have made mobility a privilege only a few can afford.

“The festive season is a time of unity, joy, and reflection. Yet, the actions of greedy transport operators under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who have chosen this period to unjustly inflate fares, are creating unnecessary hardship for millions of Nigerians. This predatory behaviour is both insensitive and exploitative, especially at a time when the reduction in fuel prices should naturally translate to lower costs for transportation and other goods and services.

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“The national leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students-led by Comrade Lucky Emonefe GCNS finds it appalling that while the government has taken steps to ease the financial burdens of citizens, transport operators have blatantly chosen to defy economic logic and plunge the masses into further hardship. Such actions amount to extortion and disregard for the collective well-being of Nigerians.

“We demand that all transport unions and operators (NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO) immediately adjust their fares to reflect the reduced cost of fuel. Nigerian Students will no longer tolerate this calculated attempt to exploit them.

“The Federal Government must take decisive action to regulate and enforce reasonable transportation costs during this period as students return back to their campuses. Leaving the masses at the mercy of profiteering transport operators is unacceptable and irresponsible.

“Relevant regulatory agencies from the Ministry of Transportation must step up and ensure that transport unions (NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO) comply with fair pricing mechanisms. Transport unions that fail to adhere to these directives should face strict sanctions.

“NANS passionately appeals to the Federal Government for a one-week extension of this laudable initiative. This extension will specifically ease the financial challenges faced by Nigerian students as they prepare to return to their respective campuses for the resumption of academic activities. This is a critical period, and our members also deserve to enjoy the gesture from the federal government.

“The current situation underscores a dangerous lack of empathy and patriotism by those who have chosen profit over people. As the voice of Nigerian students, NANS will not stand by and watch the rights and welfare of our members trampled upon.

“If these exploitative practices are not reversed, NANS will be forced to mobilize students nationwide for peaceful protests and other lawful actions to demand significant reduction in transportation fares. We will not hesitate to hold all the transport unions leadership accountable for the hardship inflicted on Nigerians.

“This season should be a time of relief and happiness, not despair and extortion. We urge all stakeholders involve to do the needful immediately”.

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