Students, parents and school operators have raised concerns over the rising cost of transportation following the recent increase in fuel prices, saying the development is affecting school attendance, punctuality and daily expenses.
In separate interviews with The Nigeria Education News, respondents said transport fares have increased across several routes in Lagos, forcing many students to trek long distances or reduce how often they travel to school.
A parent, Mrs. Muritadoh, said the fare her children pay from Alapere to Oriola has increased from ₦300 to ₦500, adding that families are finding it difficult to cope as wages have remained unchanged.
“The government did not increase salaries, yet transport fares keep rising. It is becoming very difficult for parents to cope,” she said.
Some secondary school students also shared similar experiences. Simisola, a student of Hehzibah College, said the fare she used to pay has increased from ₦100 to ₦300, while Adeshewa of First Choice Academy said she and her sister previously paid ₦300 but now pay ₦400.
According to them, the increase often forces them to trek part of the journey to school. “Sometimes we trek part of the distance so we can still have money left. Because of that, we sometimes get to school late,” one of the students said.
School administrators say the transport hike is also affecting school operations. Mrs. Ghaniyat, proprietor of Al-Ganiyy Academy, said parents now bring their wards late to school because buses are often scarce at bus stops.
“Parents complain that buses are not as available as before due to the fuel hike. Teachers are also affected because transport fares have increased, and sometimes they arrive late to school,” she said.
She added that the school is considering reviewing staff salaries next term to help teachers cope with the rising cost of transportation.
A trader, Mummy Shehu, also lamented the situation, noting that although her children trek to school because it is close to their home, transportation remains a major challenge for relatives who travel longer distances for education.
“My sister schools at Yaba College of Technology, and transportation is not easy at all. She used to go to school with about ₦5,000 daily, but the cost has increased now. It is really difficult for us,” she said.
University students also reported similar challenges. Orobiyi Adefemi, a student of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), said his transportation cost to Ikorodu has risen from about ₦1,800–₦2,000 to ₦3,000, forcing him to sometimes skip school.
“Because of the fuel price increase, I don’t go to school every day like before, and it is already affecting my studies,” he said.
Similarly, Mutiat Tiamiyu, a student of the University of Lagos, said the rising transport costs have forced her to plan carefully how she spends money on movement, especially during examinations.
“I sometimes avoid taking the campus shuttle so I can save money for my trip back home. There was a day I had to trek to my exam venue because I needed to keep my transport fare,” she said, adding that she recently had to trek home after discovering that the fare from Ojuelegba to Shitta had increased.
Many respondents warned that if transportation costs continue to rise, more students may struggle to attend school regularly, stressing that the situation could gradually become a barrier to learning for many families already battling rising living expenses.
