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UNIJOS deploys free commuter buses for students and staff

The University of Jos has deployed free shuttle busses to ease the movement of students and staff of the institution, following the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ishaya Tanko announced the development in a circular signed by the Senior Deputy Registrar of the institution, Abdullahi Abdullahi.

According to the circular obtained by our Correspondent in Jos on Friday and dated June 8, 2023, the shuttle buses which will ply the road every day except on Sundays would be deployed to designated routes within Jos, the state capital for free, to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

It said;

“The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Ishaya Tanko has considered the hardship faced by the Staff and students of the University of Jos, occasioned by the petrol subsidy removal. While the Federal Government is making consultation with stakeholders on palliative measures, the Vice Chancellor has approved the deployment of shuttle buses to transport staff and students to and from the University campuses.

“This is in a bid to ease the transportation difficulties being encountered by staff and students, especially during the period when the Second Semester Examinations for the 2020/2021 Academic Session will be conducted. Consequently, management has approved that the shuttle buses will be stationed at some strategic locations and ply the following routes on round trip basis.

“Plateau Private -Tina Junction-Angwa Rukuba -University Staff Quarters Gate -Bauchi Ring Road-Naraguta Campus.

“Polo roundabout-St Murumba-Faringada- Naraguta campus.

“British America Overhead bridge-Old JUTH-Bauchi Road-Bauchi Road campus.

“Departure times from each of the approved departure points are 7:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 6:00 pm daily except on Sundays”.

The University urged members of the University community to note that only staff with valid ID cards and students with evidence of payment and Valid ID cards will be allowed to board the buses.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has said the petrol price template published on Friday was only an indication of current market trends.

In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Abdulkadir Saidu, the agency said the published template was in line with its mandate to maintain constant surveillance of key indices relevant to pricing policy and monitors market trends on a daily basis to determine Guiding Prices.

The statement read: “One of the conditions for the implementation of the Market-Based Pricing Regime for PMS Regulation 2020 is the monthly release of Guiding Price to reflect current market fundamentals.

“The agency is not unaware of the challenges with the supply of PMS due to some concerns leading NNPC to be the sole importer of PMS. PPPRA is also mindful of the current discussion going on between the government and the organised labour on the deregulation policy.

While consultation with relevant stakeholders is ongoing, PPPRA does not fix or announce prices and therefore there is no price increase. The current PMS price is being maintained while consultations are being concluded.”

PPPRA also confirmed the return of fuel subsidy as it noted the government’s effort to keep the price of petrol at N162.

“Even though market fundamentals for PMS in the past few months indicated upward price trends, the pump price has remained the same and we are currently monitoring the situation across retail outlets nationwide,” it added.

The agency, however, assured the public of adequate supply as the average PMS Day Sufficiency as of March 11 is over 35 days.