OWERRI, Nigeria — Frustration over the soaring fuel prices bubbled into the streets on Friday, August 4, 2023, as students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede and commercial bus drivers in Imo State joined forces in a peaceful protest.
The demonstration led to blockades along the Poly-Ihiagwa road, forcing commuters to trek long distances to reach Owerri, as the drivers parked their vehicles in protest.
The hike in fuel prices has brought an abrupt increase in fares, doubling the cost from N200 to N300. The impact has been felt deeply by students and the general public alike.
“Some of us can’t eat three square meals a day, and many of us dip our hands into tuition fees to feed,” lamented one of the protesting students, expressing a sentiment echoed by many of the youth who had gathered to make their voices heard.
The situation has been especially difficult in Imo, with a commuter, Emeka Ugo, noting the disparities between the state and others.
“Fuel subsidy was also removed in other states, but the transporters hiked the fares more to cause pain to Imo people,” he said.
For the bus drivers, the increase in fuel prices has been a crippling blow to their business. They appealed to the government to urgently intervene and either bring the price down or find ways to mitigate the harsh conditions that have arisen since the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“If the government fails to intervene, the transportation business will collapse. Today, how many vehicles are you seeing plying the road? We were filling our tanks with N5,000 fuel, but now you can only purchase less than six litres with that amount. Some of us now spend N20,000 a day on fuel. So, tell me how one can survive under such a situation,” said a distraught driver, voicing the desperation that has united students and drivers in their plea for relief.
The protests come amid a broader nationwide discontent with economic conditions, particularly in the wake of subsidy removals that have led to spiraling fuel costs.
The unity between students and commercial drivers in Imo State highlights the cross-sector impact of these policies and the urgent calls for government intervention.
As the situation remains tense, Imo State authorities face the challenge of addressing the grievances of a population stretched thin by the economic strain.
The peaceful nature of the protest indicates a willingness to engage in dialogue, but the desperation in the voices of both students and drivers underscores the urgency of the situation.
The blockade on Friday may have been temporary, but the problems that prompted it linger, raising questions about the future stability of transportation in the region and the broader implications for a state grappling with economic uncertainty.
