|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Nigerians are increasingly finding it difficult to afford transportation as petrol prices continue to surge. E-hailing drivers have begun negotiating fares directly with passengers outside of ride-hailing apps, due to unsustainable fuel costs.
Since the removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, petrol prices have steadily climbed, driving inflation and drastically increasing the cost of transportation for both people and goods.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently announced higher fuel prices at its filling stations, raising costs from around N850 to N998 in Lagos and N1,030 in Abuja. This has significantly impacted the cost of public transportation, with fares for buses, motorcycles (okada), and tricycles in Lagos quadrupling as a result.
Commuters in Lagos Facing Hardship
The situation is particularly dire for Lagos residents living in areas like Obalende, where many work in more affluent neighborhoods like Ikoyi and Lekki. “Transport costs have risen over 200%, and the government isn’t doing anything about it,” said Evelyn Osagi, a domestic worker earning N65,000 per month. Evelyn explained that she would spend nearly half her salary, around N30,000, just on transportation if she didn’t walk to work.
Many low-income residents now walk long distances to save on fares, as their earnings are no longer sufficient to cover the rising transportation costs. “We can no longer afford transport to go to work,” lamented one resident who earns a living washing clothes in Lekki.
E-hailing Drivers Struggling
The fuel price hikes have also hit commercial drivers, especially those working for e-hailing services like Uber and Bolt. Many are now negotiating fares directly with passengers to offset their fuel expenses. “The prices on the apps can’t even cover fuel costs anymore,” said Chukwuma Patrick, an In-Drive driver, who spent N40,000 on fuel for just two trips but only earned N25,000 in revenue.
With fuel costs rising exponentially, drivers are barely able to keep their cars running. “Our customers understand the situation and are willing to pay more than the app fares,” said Idris, an Uber driver, explaining how passengers have adapted to the drivers’ financial struggles.
Experts Warn of Further Petrol Price Increases
Energy experts caution that the worst may not be over. Tolu Ajisafe, an energy analyst, warns that with the removal of the fuel subsidy and NNPC stepping back from its intermediary role with domestic marketers, petrol prices could climb even higher. “We haven’t seen the end of these price hikes,” Ajisafe said, noting that a further devaluation of the naira could exacerbate the situation.
For many Nigerians, the high cost of living under the post-subsidy regime is becoming harder to bear, and commuters are bracing for more inflationary pressure in the near future.
“Imagine spending N4,000 on transport daily while earning less than N150,000 per month,” said Isaac Adeolu, a commuter who travels from Abule Egba to Victoria Island. Like many others, Adeolu finds his daily commute increasingly unsustainable as petrol prices continue to rise.
