NANS Urges Dangote Refinery to Create Student Fuel Support Fund Amid Rising Transport Costs

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North-Central Zone, has called on the Federal Government and petroleum regulators to address the impact of rising petrol prices on transportation costs, warning that the increases are making education more expensive for students.

The association also urged Aliko Dangote and the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery to establish a dedicated support scheme to help students cope with rising transport fares and other education-related expenses.

The demands were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the NANS North-Central Zone Coordinator, Abiola Babatunde, who said fluctuations in petrol prices affected not only the petroleum market but also students, parents and the wider education sector.

According to the association, higher transport costs place additional pressure on students who must travel to attend lectures, examinations, practical classes, clinical postings and industrial training.

“Education becomes increasingly difficult when the cost of reaching the classroom becomes increasingly unaffordable,” NANS stated.

The student body warned that rising commuting expenses could leave students with less money for food, accommodation, textbooks, internet data and other essential academic materials. It added that parents and guardians were also struggling to meet education costs amid broader increases in living expenses.

NANS Seeks Transparency in Petrol Pricing

While acknowledging the importance of domestic refining to Nigeria’s energy security, NANS called on Dangote Refinery to provide clearer explanations for significant changes in petrol prices.

The association cited reported increases in the refinery’s ex-gantry price from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350 per litre, effective September 12, 2026, followed by a reduction to a reported ₦1,325 per litre on September 21.

It clarified that the figures illustrated recent price movements and were not being presented as the refinery’s current price.

“Our position is not anti-investment or anti-business. Our position is pro-student, pro-consumer and pro-transparency,” the statement said.

NANS argued that consumers deserved clear information about the factors behind significant price adjustments, including crude oil prices, foreign exchange movements, refining costs, logistics and supply conditions.

Proposed Dangote Education Petroleum Trust Fund

Beyond calling for greater transparency, the association proposed a Dangote Education Petroleum Trust Fund (DEPT-FUND) to provide sustained assistance to students affected by rising transportation costs.

NANS said the proposed initiative should operate as a structured, long-term education support programme rather than a series of occasional donations or short-term corporate social responsibility campaigns.

Under the proposal, the fund would provide targeted transport assistance, support affordable campus transport schemes and offer emergency relief to students whose financial difficulties threatened their ability to attend lectures, examinations and other compulsory academic activities.

It would also support students whose programmes require regular travel for clinical postings, fieldwork, industrial training and other academic engagements.

The association called for a transparent governance structure involving representatives of Dangote Refinery, education stakeholders, student representatives and independent oversight professionals.

It also proposed periodic reports disclosing funds committed and disbursed, the number of students reached, institutions supported, projects implemented and measurable outcomes, alongside independent audit information.

“Every naira committed to DEPT-FUND should be traceable to a measurable benefit to Nigerian students,” the association said.

NANS added that it was ready to engage Dangote Refinery and other stakeholders to develop a practical framework for implementing the proposed fund.

Appeal to Petroleum Regulators

The student association also urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to strengthen monitoring of consumer-protection and competition concerns in the downstream petroleum market.

It called on the commission to investigate credible complaints and enforce relevant laws where violations were established.

While acknowledging that the FCCPC does not directly set petrol prices in a deregulated market, NANS maintained that consumer-protection safeguards remained important.

The association similarly urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to strengthen market monitoring and improve public communication about petroleum price developments.

“A deregulated market does not mean an unregulated market,” NANS stated, arguing that market-driven pricing should operate alongside transparency, fair competition, market integrity and consumer protection.

Call for Government Intervention

NANS further urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable measures to reduce the transportation burden on students and recognise commuting expenses as an important part of education affordability.

The association said it would pursue dialogue, petitions and engagements with the refinery, regulators, government institutions and education stakeholders to press its demands.

“We will engage. We will write. We will petition. We will convene. We will present solutions,” the statement said.

It added that it was prepared to use lawful and peaceful means to protect students’ interests where necessary.

“Nigerian students cannot continually become the shock absorbers for every increase across the petroleum and transportation value chain,” NANS stated.

The association maintained that the issue extended beyond petrol prices to access to education, student welfare, consumer protection and Nigeria’s human-capital development.