The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said that the recent increase in the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) goes against the reason it was introduced — as a cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel.
This was said by the student body, led by Comrade Olushola Oladoja, in a statement on Monday. It followed news that the price of CNG had gone up from N230 to N450 per standard cubic metre.
The Daily Sun reports that the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) denied claims that the government removed subsidies or ordered a price increase. According to them, the new prices were set by private companies, not by the government.
In a statement signed by Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, Executive Director of Administration and Planning at NANS, the student body said they had to speak out because the price hike is affecting students and ordinary Nigerians.
“The recent increase in CNG prices has taken away the benefits of switching from petrol and diesel.“Even though we appreciate President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to help the masses, this price increase has made transportation more expensive. Commercial drivers are now charging commuters more to cover fuel costs.“We are unhappy with this and strongly say NO to this price hike,” the statement said.
NANS made three main demands: The CNG price should be reviewed and reduced, Stakeholders should be consulted to address the issue, There should be transparency in how CNG is priced and regulated.
NANS said they will use dialogue — the first step in any democratic process — to express their concerns.
The student leadership under Comrade Olushola Ladoja plans to meet with key agencies like NNPC, PCNGi, and NIPCO to find out why the prices went up and what can be done to solve the problem.
They are asking the Federal Government to explain the reason for the price hike and to consider reversing it, as it affects the poor the most.
NANS ended by saying they are ready to support efforts that will lead to a better Nigeria for everyone.
