Subsidy: UNIZIK students cry out over high cost of transportation

By Opara Mavis Chidimma

Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka are lamenting over the increasing cost of transportation within the institution.

Transportation fares within the school have skyrocketed from the usual N100 per drop to N150 following the recent removal of the petrol subsidy and increase in fuel pump price.

Some students who spoke to www.odogwublog.com expressed worry about the situation, noting that the new petrol pump price has practically increased not just the cost of transportation but also accommodation and school fees.

According to them, the school management has refused to say anything about the new development in the school.

Speaking to www.odogwublog.com, a 200-level student of mass Communication, Peace Emejuem,  urged the school Management to intervene and look into the fares charged by transporters conveying students within the school.

Also, Esther Okike a 300-level student said that the hike in prices of food items has had serious implications on the students’ ability to feed themselves, noting that it has often resulted in poor health on the part of students.

An Accounting student, Okafor Martha, said the hike in transportation is affecting both the students and the transporters. “As students trek to their departments, the transporters have no passengers. It is neither the fault of the students nor the transporters we have to bear with each other because the economy of the country is very bad.”

Ifunaya Iroma, a law student, said: “ I am not happy and very sad. She said the situation is affecting students academically.

James Ruth, of the Department of Early Childhood Education, said “The hike in transportation fare within the school is not something we the students are not taking with joy because it is affecting our academics and finances.

Elsewhere Edwin Esther said “The annoying part of the situation is that sometimes students spend #150 to go to school for lectures and the lecturers end up canceling the lecture.

They however urge the school Management to do something about the hike in transportation within the school to alleviate the suffering of the students.