By Lucy Ogalue
MANY commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were on Tuesday stranded at various bus stops due to the sudden increase in transport fares.
Some of the commuters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fares they paid while leaving their houses for work in the morning doubled in the afternoon, leaving them stranded.
The commuters, who expressed frustration at the development, called for immediate government intervention in the interest of poor Nigerians.
Miss Amina Yusuf, a clerk, said: “I paid N1,000 from my house in Gudu to Garki where I work, only to leave work now and realise the fare was almost doubled.
“I was standing at the Phototech junction with several commuters who did not have enough money to board a vehicle until I saw a colleague who bailed me out.”
Another commuter, Mr Kingsley Okoye, expressed his grievances, noting that the fare hikes had burdened his finances.
Okoye said: “I left the house with very little cash, which I assumed would get me to work, only to realise that the fares had increased.
“Instead of N250 from Apo to Gudu, I was charged N400. I had to look for where to make a withdrawal and get more cash so I would not get stranded at work.
“This situation is not fair at all. The government is not looking at the suffering of Nigerians; they are only concerned with their policies and regulations, which do not favour us.”
Mrs Jennifer Fabian said she used to spend N200 to get from Nyanya to the city centre until the pump price increased to N670 and the fare hiked to N600.
She said that with the sudden increase in fuel prices, the cost of transport increased further to N1, 200, which was very high compared to her income.
Fabians said: “This increase will definitely trickle down to affect virtually everything in the economy, especially the cost of food, which is already high. President Bola Tinubu should do something about this because we Nigerians are suffering.
“Since the day Tinubu removed subsidy, the economy has not remained the same. People are already losing their lives due to frustration, and it will worsen unless something is done urgently.”
Similarly, Mr Ahmed Musa, a trader at the Wuse Market, shared his frustration, saying: “I have to take two different buses just to get to the market every morning.
“What used to cost me N300, now costs N600, which is just one way. With how things are going, I might have to consider closing my shop earlier than usual to save on transport costs.
“The timing is terrible because schools are about to resume, and parents are struggling to pay school fees. Now we will also worry about how the children will be transported to school and back every day. The government needs to look into this urgently,” Musa said.
Commercial drivers had defended the fare hikes, citing the increased fuel cost as the primary reason.
A driver, Mr Paulinus Eze, said: “We have no choice but to increase our fares because we need to cover our expenses and not run at a loss. As we speak, most filling stations are not even selling fuel yet, and the ones that are selling have adjusted their prices.
“NIPCO, where I usually buy fuel, has increased its price from N640 to N945, and I heard AYA Shafa is selling at N880 instead of N700.
“So, it is not our fault. We have to increase the price so we can remain in business, as we all have families to take care of,” Eze said.
A financial expert, Mr Gabriel Enokela, said the increased cost of fuel would further strain the economy, which was already grappling with the aftershocks of the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023.
“This unexpected price hike has sent shockwaves through the transportation sector, with immediate consequences for commuters as transport fares have surged by as much as 50 per cent.
“This increase is expected to cascade through the economy, leading to higher prices for food and essential goods, which will inevitably impact the cost of living for millions of Nigerians.
“With schools set to resume soon, there is widespread concern that the cost of education will soar as institutions struggle to cope with rising operational expenses.
“Families are bracing for an economic squeeze as the cost of necessities spirals out of control,” Enokela said.
He, however, urged swift government intervention, as the country could face a deeper economic crisis, such as increased poverty levels and businesses shutting down due to unsustainable operational costs.
Also, Mr Idehi Fredrick, an economic analyst, said the increase came as a rude shock because the government had been canvassing about stabilising the economy.
“Nigerians are seriously suffering, and this fuel price has an adverse effect on everything in the economy, from food prices to transportation, among other things.
“Interestingly, most of these fuel stations, which have been under lock and key, suddenly now have fuel and have started selling at an increased rate.
“If NNPC had kept its promise and made the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries functional, I am sure the situation would have been different.
“Nigerians are losing hope in this administration. Therefore, as a matter of urgent national importance, the government needs to intervene so that things will not get out of hand,” he said. (NAN)
