A group under the auspices of Youth Advocate for Change, YAFC, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the recent increase in petrol prices, highlighting its potentially devastating effects on Nigerian families as the new school term resumes.
This was contained in a statement to journalists by the team lead, Mr. Adeola Ogunlade, who emphasized that the “Fuel price hike could disrupt children’s education as rising transportation costs strain families, schools, and the public transport system.
“Many children may lose access to affordable transport, which could hinder their ability to attend school”, they added.
With millions of parents bracing for financial difficulties ahead of the new school year, Ogunlade noted, “Whether parents are driving their children to school or relying on school buses, the surge in fuel prices will lead to higher transport fees.
“Families with multiple children or those living far from school are especially vulnerable.”
Mr. Ogunlade also voiced concerns that ongoing efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, currently estimated at 20 million, could be undermined by rising fuel costs.
He added that even more troubling is the fact that many children will be forced to walk long distances to attend school due to unaffordable transport fares.
“School buses, essential for transporting students daily, are expected to significantly increase their charges. With buses operating twice a day, five days a week, the fuel price surge has made their operation unsustainable. Parents will soon feel the financial burden,” he stated.
Ogunlade further posited that public transportation, already strained by the fuel price hike, is also not a viable option for many families, adding that some children attend schools far from their homes, and switching schools is not a simple solution.
“Public transport fares have surged, creating further obstacles for families.
“The rising fuel costs are expected to affect more than just transportation. Schools are facing difficulties covering the costs of fuelling generators to maintain a conducive learning environment, especially in the face of increasing temperatures.
“Cooling systems such as fans and air-conditioning units, necessary for comfortable learning, are becoming more expensive to run, and that is already straining school budgets,” he said.
He further highlighted that families will feel additional pressure at home, as rising costs across the board will make it harder to provide meals and prepare children for school.
While acknowledging that continuing to pay fuel subsidies is not sustainable, he insisted that corruption in the oil sector must be addressed and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) fully implemented to protect vulnerable Nigerians.
