Few months before the removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian Federal Government, Mahammad Zakari, a 300-level student of Mass Communication department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, had just found his way to coping amidst rising cost of common commodities, juggling schooling and hustling on the streets of Keffi for survival.
Finding himself in such an utter state of economic predicament, the undergraduate found himself a computer shop to work for.
However, three weeks later, his stay in the shop was halted because the meager amount earned from working there couldn’t sustain his transport fare and feeding. He said the fuel subsidy removal was now in order. And in no jubilant mood, almost everything jumped up with petrol pump price.
His slim hope of survival was dashed by his severe financial troubles. Being a student whose sponsorship solely relies on his uncle and himself, Mohammed was left in the pit of uncertainty, contemplating life away from studies.
For his entire life, Mohammad had channeled his opportunities through university education, which made him work hard for survival. But the compelling sinister of current economic trauma caused by the hike in petrol pump price was making his efforts to be a wild goose chase.
“Before this subsidy, I used to cope well with my studies by moving around the Keffi street to work with a friend in a computer shop, but right now as a result of this barrier, I find it difficult to cope with transport expenses to my destination of hustle”, he lamented.
Mohammad’s dream was to graduate next year, and has found himself a future in journalism. Now at a seven crossroads, he contemplates dropping out due to financial challenges.
Speaking with this reporter, Mohammed added that, “The horror of this harsh reality has been the first I am seeing. Just like many of us in this university, being at 300-Level, I don’t know whether I will graduate or not.
“At times, it was my friends who never got tired that gave me something to eat. If this situation never changes, I don’t think I can continue with schooling because there is a hike in school fees, house rent, foodstuffs and transport fare. Everything is hard, the government should do something for the students.”
Tale of transport fare hike
Joshua Idowu and his friend Nuruddeen Adepoju, had altered their study schedule in school. They go to school only when they’re certain there is a lecture. Their reason was not lack of desire for study but due to the increase in transport fare.
Both are students of English Literature, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. Before, transport from their off campus residence to school only cost them N100. Now, they either pay N150 or remain indoors. Their plight compelled them to skip lectures as they couldn’t afford having to pay that every lecture time weekly.
According to them, the difficulties were as a result of the effect emanating from subsidy removal, adding that hike in prices of almost everything takes toll on them.
“It is not easy. We have to be very careful with our expenses. And unless there is a lecture, we cannot come to school because the prices of things and transport fare from our place to school is high”, Adepoju said.
Like Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, this reporter gathered that transport fare from different destinations into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) campus, increased by 100 per cent.
Fatima Rayyanu Lamus is a 300-Level student from the Faculty of Law from ABU Zaria. Like the duo of Adepoju and Idowu, she revealed how transport from Zango to school gate and other places increased from N50 to N100.
She said, “The sudden increase of the transport fare is as a result of the increase of price in petrol. Students are extremely finding it hard to cope, because now from Zango to school gate is N100 not N50.
“Again, from outside to campus is N100 not N50 naira. Most students that are far prefer to trek. But they are suffering because most of them are missing lectures,” she added.
In the University of Wukari, the condition had gone from pleasantly bad to worse when the school management decided to stop the one month free ride it offered the students to cushion effect of fuel subsidy.
Apart from the increment of transport fare, the charging centers in the school had also increased their fee, from N50 to N150.
Speaking with Victoria Nasamu, a 400-Level student of University of Wukari said, “The situation of students in our school is really bad.
“We have students that stay in town. My school has provided a bus that did take them to town twice a day. Morning to evening. The management makes it free for one month, but after it elapsed, the students start paying again. Now the effect of this subsidy is affecting students too much.
“And some of them, if they come to school before, they use to go home and come back. That was when they had little break, because then, the transport was not much, but now they have to stay even if there is no lecture. This makes most of them get tired and hungry.
“Apart from the increment of transport, the charging centers now collect N100 instead N50 naira. This means too much for us.”
Speaking on how the situation has turned many to thieves on campus, Victoria said students are now being ambushed on campus by robbers who collect their phones.
“There are a lot of unwanted incidents that are happening now which have never happened before. When you go out, on your way back, some of the students collect phones and if you refuse, they will search you everywhere even if you are a lady. Just to embarrass you. This has never happened before”, she said.
Tuition fees hike and uncertainty around FG’s Students’ Loan
Apart from the worsening effect of subsidy removal that triggers the students suffering, in almost all Nigerian universities, the burden of fees hike is also becoming a common currency.
While many schools like University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, among others have taken the leads, students in other universities are living in fear of uncertainty.
While speaking on channel television on 24th September 2023, the chairman of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said, “If nothing is done about these heavy fees being introduced by schools all over the country, in the next two or three years, more than 40 to 50 per cent of these children who are in school today will drop out.”
In all of this, the Students loan bill that was signed by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu June 2023, had appeared as an proactive succour to the rain of tuition hikes now falling across tertiary institutions.
However, the stringent conditions and procedures attached to it have made many students uncertain for its actualisation. While the President has reportedly removed all restrictions to make it accessible for all, the sudden economic upheaval has already taken its toll on students.
Regardless, the chances of many students continuing in school still lurking as though tied with delayed implementation of the loan.
Subsidy removal and FG’s promise of buses
To cushion the effect of subsidy removal, according to reports on 31st July 2023, the federal government promised to provide buses that will be conveying students to their various destinations on campus. This was disclosed by the then presidential aide, Mr Dele Alake.
According to his statement through the national dailies, he said, “The desire of the president is to see that the students can access their campuses without difficulty as a result of high transportation cost.
“The provision of the buses will also remove the burden of additional cost of daily commuting on parents and guardians.
“In line with his promise, to ensure no Nigerian students abandons his or her educational pursuit as a result of lack money and economic circumstances of their parents, President Tinubu has also approved the removal of all restrictions on students loan to make it available to every students’ or households that may desire it”, he said
Months after this promise and and announcement from the federal government, this reporter gathered that none of the buses has been sighted in any of the universities across the country. While the conditions of students in the universities are hitting harder each day and threatening their dream of attaining a degree certificate, many of them are now calling for palliative measures from the federal government as a means of urgent intervention.
“Please, tell Mr president, we need a palliative if it can reach us. This subsidy is making everything hard and unbearable,” Mohammad Zakari cried out.
Usman Yakubu Usman is a 300-Level student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS). He can be reached via email and contact:usmanyakubuusman15@gmail.com. Contact: 07038909515.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then