Following the current fuel scarcity in Nigeria, many states such as Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja have been severely affected by the inability to purchase fuel for their vehicles and motorcycles. Similarly, Ile-Ife has also been impacted by this nationwide crisis.
Due to fuel scarcity in Ile Ife, students are facing difficulties commuting tro and fro on campus on time. This is because there are only a few buses available. On Saturday, the bus drivers increased the transportation fares to ₦200 from Mayfair and ₦150 from Campus Gate due to the recent hike in fuel prices.
The Great Ife Students’ Union intervened after having a meeting with the Town Gboro Bus Drivers in which they instructed the drivers to go back to the old price of payment.
However, in the early hours of today, at Mayfair bus stop, students in large numbers stayed by the roadside waiting for buses that would convey them to campus. This is due to the low number of buses available, as some of the drivers could not get fuel, while some did not want to agree to the price list due to the sudden increase in fuel price. This led to the struggle encountered by students in a bid to enter into few buses available making it survival of the fittest.
Students Lament
Adeola expressed his displeasure by saying, ‘The bus drivers are crazy’. He explained that when he got on a bus this morning at Lagere to meet up with an 8:00 am class, the driver asked if he had ₦300 change. He thought the driver was referring to the change he was to collect but he later found out that the fare had been increased to ₦300. He had to go back home to get more money. He further stated, ‘I do not think I will be coming to campus tomorrow’, he said.
Also, Eniola stated that she was surprised when she got to the bus stop only to find out that buses were not available. She further explained that the price was hiked from ₦200 to ₦300 from Lagere to campus. ‘I would not be coming to campus tomorrow’, she said.
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Raji, another student, explained that ‘It has been difficult’. He further stated that the price was ₦100 for him while coming into campus this morning but he heard that some paid ₦150 in the morning.
Favour explained that the cost of transportation from Ile Funfun to Lagere has been increased from ₦200 to ₦300. According to her, she boarded a bus from Campus to Lagere for ₦250 on Saturday.
In the late hours of today, a large number of students can be seen queuing up to get transport out of campus as buses were scarce. The Students’ Union has also taken action by coordinating the movement of students. They were organizing available buses and private cars to transport the students out of the campus safely.
💥 Fuel Scarcity: Students stranded on campus after evening class #OAUTwitter#xOAU pic.twitter.com/RMGU7M78IX
— The Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) OAU (@Official_ACJOAU) April 29, 2024