The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has raised the alarm that students are presently stranded in campuses across the Delta State as a result of hike in transportation fares to their respective communities.
The leadership of NANS Zone B (South-South and South-East) raised the alarm in Asaba at a press briefing shortly after the election of officers of the zone.
Deputy coordinator of the zone, Dio Oghale Rex who spoke alongside the coordinator, Olisa Nwuruku Alfred, lamented that a lot of students were unable to join their families for the festive holiday due to high transportation cost.
He said transport fare from Asaba to Ughelli which used to be between N1,000 and N1,500 has skyrocketed to N3,000 beyond the reach of students.
“Now, most students are stranded on campuses as they can’t go back home for the festive holiday.
“We are calling on the state government to urgently intervene so that students can enjoy the best of the season with their families,” he said.
Comrade Rex also appealed to the state government to come up with measures on how to reduce exorbitant private hostel fees on campus, noting that the coat of house rents was presently unbearable.
Speaking on the state of the union, the zonal coordinator, Comrade Alfred said NANS would continue to be the voice of students in the zone, urging students who are victims of arbitrary expulsion, harassment, extortion, intimidation and other unlawful acts to bring their complaints to the leadership of the zone for prompt attention.
Alfred commended the president of NANS, Asefon Dayo Sunday on his unwavering stand against the removal of fuel subsidy, and assured him of the solidarity and support of the zone in chasing the cause to a trusted end.
He called on the Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and it’s polytechnic counterpart to find a common ground and resolve all lingering issues in order to avoid another strike in the nation’s tertiary education sector.