The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has raised alarm over the dire challenges confronting students amidst the sudden surge in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and its scarcity, reaching unprecedented levels. In a statement issued by the union’s President, Abbas Ojo, and disseminated on the campus in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Federal Government was implored to urgently tackle the unfolding issues.
The union, alarmed by the gravity of the situation, warned of imminent protests should the circumstances persist. Observations revealed queues at filling stations across Ogun and Lagos states since the weekend, with some stations remaining closed. Reports indicated PMS, also known as petrol, selling between N700 and N800 per liter, while some individuals claimed to procure it at prices exceeding N800 in Lagos and Ogun, consequently causing a surge in transport fares.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited attributed the queues to supply challenges and urged customers to exercise patience. Tomisin Bakare, a resident, shared his dismay at purchasing fuel at N700 per liter after enduring a lengthy queue.
Echoing the sentiments of the student union president, Abbas Ojo, the situation mirrored in Osun, particularly around the campus environs, where bus fares witnessed an upsurge. Ojo lamented the government’s economic policies, stressing that students could no longer bear the burden.
The removal of fuel subsidy, announced by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, plunged Nigerians into harsh economic realities compounded by the depreciation of the naira against the dollar. Ojo highlighted the myriad challenges faced by students, ranging from soaring electricity tariffs to the skyrocketing cost of living, further exacerbated by recent fuel shortages and fluctuating prices.