By Zamani Faith Gongur
Struggling with high transport costs, many Unijos students are finding it tough to get to lectures on time. Though the Unijos management has tried to ease the burden by providing buses for students with long commutes, not everyone gets a seat and some end up standing.
High transportation costs are becoming a significant source of stress and anxiety for Unijos students. The soaring prices of fuel and transport services are draining their finances, making it challenging to get to lectures on time and afford other essential expenses.
In an attempt to reduce the transport costs, the management of the school provided buses for students who have lengthy commutes. Although, not everyone gets a seat on the bus as some students end up standing in the vehicle after a stressful day at school.
A final-year history education student, Praise Jonathan, explained that she usually uses a tricycle to get to school and also while coming back home. She added that she spends about a thousand naira daily on transportation and sometimes trek to school due to insufficient finance for transportation.
Praise applauded the University for the provision of the buses revealing it had gone a long way in minimizing her budget for transportation.
Similarly, Joy Solomon, a criminology final-year student, said this mode of transportation has made students arrive late for lectures because they usually have to wait for a long time to board the school buses or tricycles.
Maren Moses Matta, a 400L estate management student, shares a similar sentiment. He said tricycles are his primary mode of transportation to school, and he has already budgeted for this expense, so he doesn’t mind spending the usual amount. The students’ union has also set up buses with reduced fares for those who cannot afford tricycles, a move that is greatly appreciated by many students.
Amid the transportation crisis, some students, like Pastor Tomo E. D., a 300 level Mass Communication student, have emerged as local heroes. He frequently offers rides to his fellow students, explaining that “helping people and lightening their load” is his way of giving back to the community, “I provide rides whenever I can because I think it’s important to help people. It’s how I try to help the community and lighten the load on other people”.
Tricyclists also known as Keke drivers, who are at the forefront of this transport issue, are also contending with their own challenges as a result of the soaring fuel prices.
Speaking with a tricyclist, Musa Bala, he said, “We’ve had to hike our fares just to keep our heads above water because fuel prices have gone through the roof.”
Faruk Adammu who also shares Musa’s worries said “We are being severely impacted by the skyrocketing cost of fuel and it is not our fault, we have bills to pay and families to provide for. We can only survive in this difficult economic climate by raising fares.”
Given all of these difficulties, Unijos really ought to take the lead. Although the buses are a wonderful start, there is still a need to adjust the timing and seat capacity as it doesn’t accommodate everyone. Unijos can significantly reduce student financial stress and maintain universal access to education by working out these problems.
Students continue to overcome the obstacles posed by expensive fares as Unijos strives to organize their transportation system. They are determined to have a more seamless academic career ahead of them, even in the face of setbacks.
