Abeokuta, Ogun State – The first day of the new academic term has gotten off to a chaotic start in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital as a severe fuel scarcity has left school children stranded and forced to trek long distances to school.
The fuel situation, which has been ongoing for several days, has seen a severe shortage of public transportation, leaving commuters stranded, and also leaving parents and students scrambling for alternative means of getting to school.
The fuel scarcity has been attributed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC)’s prioritization of fuel supply to Abuja, the capital city, leaving other states like Ogun to bear the brunt of the shortage.
As a result, school children have been forced to trek long distances to school, raising concerns about their safety and well-being.
In reaction to the current situation, Mrs. Adeola Ajayi, a concerned parent said, “My child had to trek about an hour to get to school today. This is not safe, and something needs to be done urgently.”
“I had to wake up at 5 am to trek to school today. I’m so tired and exhausted. I hope the government does something about this fuel scarcity soon, so we can stop trekking to school,” said Tomiwa, a student of St. Peter’s Primary School.
“I had to trek to get to school today. My legs are aching. I wish the fuel scarcity would end, so we can go back to our normal routine,” said Funmi, a student of Abeokuta Grammar School.
“I trekked to get to school today. I’m so hungry and thirsty. I wish the government would do something to help us, so we don’t have to go through this again,” said Segun, a student of Baptist Boys High School.
In the meantime, parents are being forced to make difficult choices, with some opting to keep their children at home until the situation is resolved. Many parents and students are calling on the government to find a lasting solution to the fuel scarcity, so they can go back to their normal routine.
While there is need for the government to mitigate against the current situation, concerned parents and commuters have called on government at all levels to provide alternative transportation for students, increase fuel supply to the state and implement measures to prevent future fuel scarcity.
