The Impact of Rising Fuel Costs on Students within the Campus

Olorunfemi Oluwaseun

Obafemi Awolowo University students, who are still on campus doing their IT, teaching practice, and other academic programs during the holidays, have in one way or another been affected by the hike in petrol prices in the country since they began their programs. It has affected them in a way that they have had to make compromises, use wisdom, and engage in proper planning for their everyday activities and basic needs.

During an interview with Mr. Olorunfemi Seyi, a part 3 student going to 4 of the Faculty of Technology, studying Electronic and Electrical Engineering, he said ever since he started his Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES 1) in early August 2024 with one of his lecturers who has an office on campus, the money sent to him from home for his upkeep has been barely enough. " Well, since almost everything is connected in one way or another, like the fuel price and every other aspect of the economy, it has definitely affected a lot. The price of food and other resources increases quickly, and the token sent from home for upkeep is not enough to buy anything satisfactory; it is more about survival now. Most times, I have to make compromises, like trekking, so I can eat whatever I can afford, and other times when there is nothing, I had to rely on some available friends or get food on credit from known vendors," he said. Things have not been easy, in general, with the situation of things, but Seyi said he does his best to keep his head up.

After having an interview with Ms. Mufutaudeen Rofiah Adedamola, a diploma 2 student of the Faculty of Arts, studying Dramatic Arts, who just finished her IT program a few days ago at Crown FM in Ife,  said the hike in petrol prices in the country has become unbearable and affected lots of average families, not to mention commoners. She said transport fare almost killed her during her IT program. "I actually fell victim to this. On a normal day my to and fro transport fare to my IT centre is ₦800. As usual I flagged down a bus thinking it was still ₦800 and I even entered with my steeze. Not until someone alighted and gave the driver ₦300 (from roundabout to lagere). This driver started shouting and cursing this passenger that any drop is now ₦400. Immediately, my steeze dropped like 10000000 times. I couldn't say a thing, and that was how my ₦800 naira turned to ₦1000 or ₦1200 sometimes," she said.

 Miss Abosede, also a student going to part 4 from the Music department of the Faculty of Arts, who is doing her SIWES program at Crown FM, said she has little to say because the situation of the country right now regarding the issue of the hike in petrol prices and how it has affected the economy and the people has put everyone in a perplexed state. "Actually, I don’t have much to say because everybody is confused right now. We don’t even know what is next. Everything is in God's hands and our Government's. We have no power of our own, " she said. As a student that she is, she said it has really affected her a lot in so many ways because she stays off campus and the transport fee is so high. "A drop is now ₦300, and we students focus more on how to get money than study because without that, how do we survive?" she said.

Both students doing one program or another and the ones that couldn't go home to spend the holiday with their families due to the hike in petrol prices, which has resulted in a high increase in transport fare, have been really affected and are left with no choice but to stay and manage what they have left or what is sent from home for their upkeep. While they are given no option but to endure and bear the unbearable hardship that has befallen the economy due to the hike in petrol prices, the students hope that the government will consider the people, especially parents that have children in schools, and bring the petrol price to a bearable amount to stabilize the flow of the economy.