The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed grave concern to President Bola Tinubu regarding the deteriorating fuel crisis in Nigeria, asserting that the removal of the subsidy has not yielded any positive outcomes.
In a statement released in Abeokuta on Saturday, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, NANS National Clerk of the Senate, highlighted the severe impact of the subsidy removal regime.
“NANS is deeply concerned about the prevailing high cost and persistent scarcity of petrol in our country,” the statement read. “This crisis has continued to persist despite the removal of fuel subsidy which has brought untold hardships to Nigerians. This crisis is not only crippling the economy but also severely impacting the welfare and academic pursuits of students across the nation. Nigerians are experiencing unprecedented hardship and going through hell before they can get to buy fuels.”
The student body pointed out that fuel queues remain a common sight at petrol stations nationwide, contrary to President Tinubu’s promise that they would vanish following the subsidy removal.
“The exorbitant cost of petrol has led to a sharp increase in transportation fares and caused a surge in the prices of essential goods and services,” NANS noted. “The increased cost of transportation and production is being passed on to consumers, exacerbating the already high cost of living. It is regrettable that, one year after the removal of subsidy, the fuel crisis has even worsened, and it appears the country is operating under a curse.”
NANS urged the government to take swift and decisive action to alleviate this pressing issue before Nigerians are pushed to the wall.