NAPS South-South Condemns Fuel Price Hike, Demands Relief for Students


By Adesakin Adefemi 

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), South-South Zone, has expressed deep concern over the recent surge in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which has risen to ₦1,300 per litre as of March 13th, 2026, in Asaba and across the South-South region.

In a statement signed by Comr. Abraham Orji, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NAPS, the association emphasized that the price hike poses a serious threat to the welfare and academic stability of Polytechnic students across the South-South region and Nigeria at large. "The continuous escalation in fuel prices directly affects students' ability to attend classes, access learning facilities, and participate effectively in skill-based training essential to their academic development," the statement read.

Polytechnic education is largely practical and requires constant mobility for lectures, laboratory work, technical training, and industrial attachments. The fuel price hike has therefore sparked fears of increased transportation costs, worsened living conditions, and deepened hardship for students.

The association is calling on the government to urgently implement mitigating measures to cushion the impact on students, including transportation support schemes, targeted educational assistance programmes, and structured engagement with student leadership bodies.

The NAPS South-South Zone is also urging the Federal Government to prioritize and strengthen local refining capacity as a strategic solution to stabilizing fuel prices and ensuring national energy security. "Nigeria cannot continue to operate as with a major crude oil producing nation while relying heavily on imported refined petroleum products," Comr. Orji stated.

The fuel price hike has also been linked to the failure of electricity supply in many institutions, forcing them to rely on fuel and diesel-powered generators. This has further exacerbated the financial burden on students and institutions.

The NAPS South-South Zone is urging the government to take decisive steps to support local refineries, including ensuring adequate and consistent allocation of crude oil to domestic refining facilities, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

The association is also calling for an end to the importation of fuel, especially at a time when local refining capacity is gradually expanding. "Allowing large-scale importation of refined petroleum products discourages local investment, weakens domestic refining growth, and undermines Nigeria's long-term energy independence," Comr. Orji stated.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has been urged to discontinue the issuance of fuel import licenses to encourage the full utilization and development of local refining capacity.

The NAPS South-South Zone remains committed to constructive engagement and responsible advocacy aimed at promoting policies that protect student welfare, strengthen Nigeria's energy independence, and ensure that education and technical skill development remain accessible to all Nigerian students.

The association believes that the time has come for decisive national action that prioritizes local solutions, supports domestic refining, and shields students and ordinary Nigerians from the growing burden of economic hardship.

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