News
From Fuel Price Increase On May 29 2023 To Passport Fees Increase, Nigerians Struggle To Survive Under Tinubu, See Various Hikes In Prices Witnessed In 15months
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Nigeria has seen significant increases in the prices of various essential goods and services, affecting the cost of living for millions.
These hikes, attributed by the government to necessary economic reforms, have sparked widespread debate and concern.
While the government argues that these increases are necessary for economic reforms and sustainability, they have undeniably contributed to the rising cost of living.
PUNCH Online highlights a list of major items and services that have seen price hikes during Tinubu’s administration.
1. Fuel price surge
One of the most significant and controversial price hikes has been in fuel. Following the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, the price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, soared. The pump price jumped from around ₦185 per litre to over ₦500 per litre, with reports of prices reaching ₦700 per litre in some areas. This surge has had a ripple effect on transportation costs, food prices, and overall inflation.
2. Electricity tariffs increase
Electricity tariffs also saw a sharp rise. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a tariff increase for Distribution Companies (DisCos), raising the tariff for Band A customers from ₦68/kWh to ₦225/kWh, a staggering 240% increase. According to the government, this move, which took effect in April 2024, aims to save the government ₦1.5 trillion by removing subsidies on electricity for this customer category. However, the hike has significantly added pressure on household expenses.
3. Passport fee hike
The Federal Government approved an upward review of passport fees, effective from September 1, 2024. According to a statement by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the cost of a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity increased from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000, while the 64-page booklet with ten-year validity rose from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000. The NIS stated that the hike was necessary to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport.
4. Rising cooking gas prices
Cooking gas prices have continued to climb. As of March 2024, the average cost to refill a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) increased by 7.10% from February, reaching ₦6,591.62. Year-on-year, this marks a 42.97% increase from ₦4,610.48 in March 2023. The National Bureau of Statistics attributed this rise to various economic factors, including higher import costs.
5. Higher transportation costs
Transportation costs have significantly increased, largely driven by the fuel price hike. Public transportation fares in cities like Lagos and Abuja have doubled or even tripled. For example, the average bus fare from Berger to Mowe increased from ₦300 in March 2023 to ₦500 by August 2024. This surge has made commuting and intercity travel considerably more expensive for Nigerians.
6. Food price inflation
Food prices, already on the rise due to inflation and insecurity, have been further exacerbated by the removal of the fuel subsidy. The increased transportation costs have directly impacted the prices of staples such as rice, beans, and maize, placing additional strain on household budgets across the country.
7. Tuition fee increase
Tuition fees in several federal universities have also been hiked. For instance, the University of Lagos raised its tuition fees from around ₦19,000 to ₦190,250 for medical students and ₦140,250 for other courses. This substantial increase, announced in July 2023, has sparked protests among students and concerns over access to affordable education.
News
NECO accredits more foreign schools for SSCE, BECE
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has given accreditation to more foreign schools to write the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The Acting Director, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, disclosed this in a statement.
The newly accredited schools are in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
“NECO Accreditation Team visited the Schools to assess their readiness to write the SSCE and BECE.
“The Accreditation Team inspected classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories, workshops, examination halls and sport facilities to determine their adequacy and suitability for NECO Examinations.
“After a thorough evaluation and comprehensive assessment, the schools were granted full SSCE and full BECE accreditation status,” the statement said.
The statement added that the accreditation of additional foreign schools is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefits from its expertise, thus contributing to the advancement of education in Africa and beyond.”
In another development, the statement disclosed that candidates are participating in the on-going NECO SSCE External in Diffa, Niger Republic.
“The UNHCR School, Diffa, Niger Republic is the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria.”
NECO examinations are now written by candidates in Benin Republic, Togo, Cote’ d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia.
News
Guardiola suffers worst defeat of career as Tottenham hammer Man City 4-0
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, suffered the worst defeat of his managerial career as they lost 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.
The Premier League champions were already on a run of four consecutive defeats ahead of the visit of the North London side.
James Maddison scored twice in the first half to set Spurs on their way to a sensational win.
Pedro Porro drilled in a third, before Brennan Johnson got on the scoresheet late in the game.
The result leaves City in second place with 23 points. They could go eight points behind Liverpool by the end of this Game Week.
Guardiola takes his men to Anfield next weekend.
News
FUOYE Re-Marks Exam Papers of Student Failed By Lecturer Over Sex-for-Grade Scandal, Secures Justice
The Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, has cleared a female student, Ramota Olahanloye, to graduate following the re-marking of her final-year examination scripts.
Olahanloye had alleged that a lecturer, Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia, demanded sexual favours from her, and when she declined, he deliberately failed her in two final-year courses.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Wole Balogun, the university confirmed that Olahanloye’s allegations were investigated, and her scripts were re-marked.
“The young lady’s scripts were re-marked, and she performed fairly better than the scores initially awarded by Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia,” the statement read.
According to Balogun, the university management approved Olahanloye’s revised results, which qualified her for graduation.
“The university management has given executive approval for her results to be processed. She has since commenced her final clearance from relevant units of the university,” the statement added.
Balogun also disclosed that Agbegbedia had been sanctioned by the institution for his misconduct.
Olahanloye expressed her joy over the resolution of the case, saying, “I am happy that I have gotten justice, and I really appreciate the university Vice-Chancellor for setting up the committee that investigated the matter.
“I was shown my entire results, including the graduation list with my name on it. I have started my clearance as a graduating student of the university, and I am truly happy.”
Her father, Rasaki Olahanloye, also lauded the university for its commitment to justice.
“I can confirm to the world that FUOYE has served justice to my daughter. I was shown her upgraded results after her scripts were re-marked, and it is clear that she passed.
“The university fulfilled its promise to ensure fairness, and I appreciate the VC, Prof. Sunday Fasina, and the committee members for ensuring my daughter gets justice,” he said.
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