The Coalition of Northern Groups Student Wing (CNG-SW) Wednesday called on the federal government to fulfill its promise of providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to tertiary institutions across the country.
The CNG -SW made the call in a communique signed by its National Coordinator, Hassan Adamu and Secretary, Ahmad Abdulgafar.
In the communique, the student group expressed deep concern over the rising cost of transportation, which has been exacerbated by the government’s delay in distributing the promised CNG buses.
The student leaders noted that the increase in transportation costs has placed a significant financial burden on students, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, where many struggle to afford basic necessities.
The communiqué highlighted that the promise of CNG buses was part of the Federal Government’s initiative to ease transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies.
However, months after the initial announcement, the buses are yet to be delivered to campuses, leaving students to bear the brunt of skyrocketing transport fares.
“We are disappointed with the federal government’s failure to deliver on its promise of CNG buses to our campuses. This delay has left many students struggling to afford transportation, which is impacting their ability to attend classes and perform well academically,” the statement read.
The CNG-SW urged the government to prioritise the distribution of the buses, stressing that the current situation is untenable. They warned that if the government does not take swift action, it could lead to further hardships for students, who are already facing challenges such as hyperinflation, insecurity, and inadequate campus infrastructure.