NANS Proposes Transport Support Fund as Fuel Costs Strain Students
NANS wants government, regulators and Dangote Refinery to support students facing higher commuting and education expenses.
The North-Central Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students has called for targeted measures to reduce the financial pressure that higher petrol and transport costs place on students and their families.
In a statement issued on Thursday, zonal coordinator Abiola Babatunde said changes in petrol prices affect more than daily commuting. NANS linked higher fuel costs to increased spending on food and logistics, while noting that many students must travel regularly for lectures, examinations, practical sessions, clinical placements and industrial training.
The student body argued that transport expenses should be considered when assessing whether education remains affordable. It said rising fares can reduce the money students have available for accommodation, feeding, textbooks, internet access and other academic needs. Parents and guardians, the association added, also face additional pressure while meeting education costs alongside broader household expenses.
NANS asked Dangote Petroleum Refinery to provide clearer information when significant petrol price changes occur. It referred to reported ex-gantry movements from N1,265 per litre to N1,350 on September 12, followed by a reported reduction to N1,325 on September 21. The association stressed that those figures were cited as examples of recent changes rather than as the refinery's current price.
Beyond its transparency request, NANS proposed a long-term intervention called the Dangote Education Petroleum Trust Fund. The suggested programme would provide transport assistance, support cheaper campus transportation and offer emergency help to students whose financial circumstances threaten their participation in compulsory academic activities.
The association proposed that the fund be overseen by representatives of Dangote, education stakeholders, students and independent professionals. It also wants regular disclosure of money committed and distributed, beneficiaries reached, participating institutions, completed projects and independently audited information.
NANS separately urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to strengthen oversight of competition and consumer-protection issues in the downstream petroleum sector. It also asked the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to improve market monitoring and communication about price developments.
The student group said it was prepared to engage the refinery, regulators, government agencies and education stakeholders through dialogue, petitions and other lawful means. Its central argument is that the effect of fuel prices on students should be treated as an education-access and welfare issue, not only as a petroleum-market concern.