Fuel Hike: Many FCT motorists, commuters groan as fares rise again
Many motorists, commuters and road transport workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern as petrol prices rise again, pushing up transport fares and household expenses.
The latest increase followed Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s fourth upward review of its petrol gantry price since Aug. 21.
The refinery raised the price from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, an N85 increase, representing 6.7 per cent.
The new price, effective Sept. 12, has triggered fresh pump-price adjustments across filling stations in the FCT.
Checks by the newsmen in Abuja showed that MRS outlets were selling petrol at N1,395 per litre, while NIPCO outlets were selling at N1,430 and Mobil outlets at N1,400.
However, other outlets were selling the product at prices approaching N1,450 per litre, depending on location and prevailing supply costs.
The development had raised concerns among vehicle owners and commuters, with transport operators saying increased fuel costs were putting additional pressure on their businesses.
Udoh Daniel, a motorist in Abuja, described the latest increase as unbearable, saying the rising price of petrol was affecting household finances.
“Imagine buying petrol at N1,414 per litre. My cousin told me that it is selling for N1,450 presently in Dawaki,” Daniel said.
He said the continuous increases were making it increasingly difficult for motorists to maintain their vehicles and meet other financial obligations.
Mrs Favour Adeniji, another Abuja resident, said the latest increase was coming at a difficult period for families following the resumption of academic activities.
“Our children have just returned to school, and we are struggling to pay their fees when the petrol price increase was slammed on us.
“This is ill-timed. The government and other people responsible for this are not considerate at all because it has created additional pressure,” she said.
A civil servant, Ali Salisu, also expressed concern over the effect of rising petrol prices on workers whose salaries had not increased in line with the cost of living.
“Salaries are not increasing, yet the price of petrol keeps rising and pushing up the price of everything else.
“This administration is pushing workers and ordinary Nigerians to the edge.
“There is a popular saying that if you chase a goat to a brick wall, it will have no choice but to hit back at you.
“I hope the government is not gradually pushing Nigerians to their limit,” Salisu said.
For commuters, the impact is being felt directly through higher fares on some routes within Abuja and its suburbs.
Newsmen report that commuters from satellite towns and other surrounding communities going to the city centre now spend more on daily transportation than they did before the latest petrol increase.
Commuters travelling from the Masaka-New Nyanya-Ado-One Man Village axis to the city centre said fares had increased from N1,000 to N1,200.
Similarly, commuters from Kubwa, a satellite town to Federal Secretariat, Wuse and Berger now pay N1200, instead of N1000
The additional N200 per trip could translate into thousands of naira in extra monthly expenditure for workers who commute to Abuja every weekday.
Transport workers have also expressed concern that higher fuel costs are reducing their daily earnings because a larger proportion of their revenue is now spent on petrol.
A taxi driver, Salem Ogbe, said operators were caught between increasing fares to cover their expenses and protecting passengers from additional financial pressure.
“I am tired of this job because there is hardly any profit left,” Ogbe lamented.
He said drivers could not increase fares every time petrol prices rose because passengers were also struggling with higher living costs.
According to him, transport operators were therefore being forced to absorb part of the increase, despite the additional cost of fuelling and maintaining their vehicles.
“The situation is particularly challenging for drivers who cover long distances daily and consume significant quantities of petrol before returning home,” he said.
Mr Collins Ejiga, a private vehicle owner, said the increase had eaten deep into his savings and was affecting his livelihood.
“When the pump price was N1,265 per litre, I was buying 50 litres for #63,250, which lasted me for a week.
“With the latest increase to N1,450, I am buying the same quantity for N72,500, which is about a N10,000 increase. The pressure is becoming unbearable,” Ejiga lamented.
Some motorists told reporters that to mitigate the pressure, they were reducing unnecessary journeys, combining multiple errands into single trips and considering public transportation to control their monthly expenses.
Some commuters on the other hand, said they faced the difficult choice of paying higher fares, walking longer distances or waiting for cheaper means of transportation.
Newsmen report that the increase has also raised concerns among traders and small business operators because higher transportation costs could increase the cost of moving goods from markets and distribution centres.
Some of the business owners who spoke to newsmen said they had no choice but to increase the prices of their wares to cover the increased cost of transportation.
Meanwhile, economic experts had warned that increased transportation and production costs could eventually feed into the prices of food and other essential commodities.
They contended that the development could further compound the challenges faced by Nigerians who were grappling with rising living costs.
Newsmen report that the latest adjustment is the fourth upward review of Dangote Refinery’s petrol gantry price since Aug. 21, bringing the cumulative increase to N185 within the period.
Motorists and transport operators have urged stakeholders in the petroleum sector to ensure greater stability in petrol prices to enable households and businesses to plan their finances.
For FCT residents, the concern extends beyond the price displayed at filling stations, as each increase affects the cost of commuting, household budgeting and daily economic activities.
As motorists and commuters adjust to the latest increase, transport workers say further petrol price increases could create additional pressure on fares and the already stretched finances of passengers.