Residents in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing concerns over the persistent increase in fuel prices, which has led to a surge in transportation, food, and living costs. The rising costs are exacerbating economic hardship for households and businesses. According to residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, the increase in petrol prices has resulted in higher transport fares, food prices, and costs of essential goods and services.
A commercial driver in Dei-Dei, Mr. Sunny Peter, attributed the increase in transport fares to the rising cost of petrol. He stated that drivers have no option but to adjust fares because fuel now accounts for a greater share of their operating costs. For instance, the fare from Dei-Dei to Berger, which previously ranged between N900 and N1000, now costs about N1,200 to N1,500, depending on traffic and demand.
Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria indicate that petrol now sells between N1,450 and N1,500 per litre at many filling stations in Abuja, compared with about N1,200 and N1,280 per litre before the latest increases. This significant hike has affected many residents, including civil servant Mrs. Adaeze Okoli, who said the rising transport fares had made commuting to work increasingly difficult.
Mrs. Okoli mentioned that a significant portion of her monthly salary is now spent on transportation, leaving little for feeding, rent, and other necessities. She expressed concern that the cost of living keeps rising while her income remains the same, adding that every fuel increase affects everything she buys. Similarly, Mr. Abdullahi Sani said commuting to work had become more challenging due to the steady rise in transport costs.
The rising transport costs have affected many families, with Mr. Sani stating that his salary has remained the same, but transport costs continue to rise. He now spends far more than he did a few months ago just getting to work. Many families now struggle to meet their basic needs because a larger share of their income is spent on transportation and household expenses.
In Dutse, Mrs. Esther Okeke, a mother of six, said the fuel price increase had affected virtually every aspect of family life. She mentioned that food prices, school, transportation, and electricity costs have all increased, making it difficult to manage the family budget. She appealed to the government to introduce measures that would cushion the impact of fuel price increases on transport operators and commuters.
Some residents have called for the introduction of affordable mass transit buses on major routes within the FCT to ease the burden on commuters. They expressed hope that measures to reduce transportation costs would also help lower the prices of food and other essential commodities. The Federal Government, in August, inaugurated 100 Renewed Hope Mass Transit electric buses for civil servants, which are expected to provide safer, more affordable, and reliable transportation.
Key points
- The fuel price hike has led to increased transportation, food, and living costs in Nigeria's FCT.
- Residents are calling for government intervention to cushion the impact of fuel price increases on transport operators and commuters.
- The Federal Government has inaugurated 100 Renewed Hope Mass Transit electric buses to provide affordable transportation for civil servants.
