Due to recent increases in fuel prices, Nigeria is severely affected by increased transportation costs. The inability to pay daily fares has forced students, particularly in Lagos, to turn to dangerous behaviours like walking great distances to school or begging for rides. Akeem Goriola, a 10-year-old pupil, is pleading for lower tickets because his family is struggling financially. Another student named Bisade similarly walks home every day due to her triple transportation charges. In an effort to reduce the mounting expenses, some parents are removing their kids entirely or moving them to less expensive schools.
A parent named Mr. Happy Ubosi was forced to transfer his kids to a less expensive school since he was no longer able to pay the tuition at their old school. Teachers are under pressure too since their pay is stagnating despite rising living and transport expenses. Some people, like a Teacher from Ketu, work additional jobs to help them make ends meet. In addition to increasing school dropout rates and absenteeism, the rise in fuel prices has made it more difficult for many students to attend classes on a regular basis because of transportation expenses.
Teachers and other school employees are also resigning.
Also, a lot of students leave private schools, and extracurricular programs are discontinued. Due to the high cost of commuting, teachers and other school employees are also leaving. Education industry stakeholders are pushing for government action in the form of fuel subsidies, better public transit, and long-term solutions to stop the education system from continuing to deteriorate. In Nigeria, the price of petrol has skyrocketed in the last few months, going from ₦750 in July to between ₦900 and ₦1,200 in September 2024.
This sudden hike, which amounts to a 20–60% increase, has a big effect on transport costs all over the nation. The cost of daily transport for students has increased by up to 100%; short-distance charges have increased from ₦200 to ₦400 or more, and in some places, much more. Particularly in low-income and rural areas, there is a strong correlation between rising school absenteeism and dropout rates and rising transit costs. Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics recently released a report stating that the inability of families to pay for transport and other school-related fees has resulted in a roughly 12% increase in dropout rates in elementary and secondary schools during the past quarter.
Stakeholders are planning long-term strategies to curb the situation.
Parents’ complaints about the cost are becoming more and more common. For example, A parent was compelled to move his kids to a school that charged half of what he used to pay in school fees in order to pay for the rising cost of living. Even government representatives acknowledge the situation. The rising dropout rates have alarmed Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, who has noted that thousands of children now face a major obstacle to an education: transportation costs.
Administrators at schools, like Mr. Ajani Durodola, the founder of Dobar Schools in Ikorodu, have noted a 15% decline in enrolment as middle-class families are switching to public schools as a result of growing expenses. Stakeholders are contemplating long-term strategies to mitigate the situation. One interesting strategy is the use of Renewable Energy in schools. Schools could lower their dependency on fuel-powered generators and thereby save Electricity costs by putting up solar panels. Nigeria might save up to 40% on energy expenditures in schools by converting to solar power, according to a 2023 research by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
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Online learning is also considered a good substitute for students, particularly in cities with more access to digital infrastructure. The necessity for regular commutes may be lessened by hybrid learning models, which mix in-person instruction with online learning. Additionally, to ensure that students may continue their education without experiencing severe financial hardship, the Nigerian government has been encouraged to invest in reasonably priced, dependable public transport networks and provide Fuel Subsidies exclusively for the education industry.