Nigerians across the country have lamented worsening living conditions after the recent hike in fuel prices.
The hardship, which started after the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira, was exacerbated on Wednesday when the pump price of fuel jumped from around N800 to N1,150 per litre.
Our correspondents noted that since then, there has been a skyrocketing increase in the prices of food items as transport costs soared.
Many Nigerians expressed frustration with the situation, saying they could no longer afford to feed their family members due to strained budgets.
It was gathered that intra-city transporters in Abuja and the Federal Capital Territory, have increased their fares by N100 while those operating inter-state hiked fares by N500 to N1,000, depending on the destination.
A worker in a financial firm in Lagos, Donald Eke, said his transport fare from New Road to Lekki Phase 1 on Lagos Island increased by over 100 per cent.
“The fare has been increasing steadily, but since the recent fuel hike, a trip that used to cost N300 to my office now costs N700. With serious negotiation, you could pay N600,” he stated.
In Ogun State, passengers who ply the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway lamented the hike in transport fares, which they said increased by 100 per cent.
A sales representative, Treasure Ettah, who resides in Magboro, said “My transport fare is normally N500, and at most N700 to Gbagada before. Now, it’s between N1,000 to N1,400 from Prayer City. I am just managing the situation because I can’t sit at home.”
In Osun State, commercial operators known as Korope drivers in Osogbo, have also adjusted their fares due to the fuel hike.
A resident of the state, Kazeem Badmus, said the transport fares to Okuku, Ife, Ilesa and Iwo have been increased to N2,500, N2,000, N1,500 and N2,000 from N1,500, N1,200 and N2,000 respectively.
The transport fare of commercial vehicles at the shortest distance in Ondo State is now N200, while inter-state commercial vehicles have increased their fares by 20 per cent.
In Plateau State, residents expressed worry that due to increased transportation fares, more people might be forced to remain indoors.
A resident, Philip Dontur, who spoke with one of our correspondents, noted that the transport fare from Jos to Shendam, which used to be N4,000 a few months ago, has now increased to N6,000.
A similar trend was observed in Yobe State where we gathered that transportation costs have also surged by about 50 per cent.
In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, transportation costs have skyrocketed, including commercial motorcycles, a major means of transportation, which has also gone up from N200 for a short distance to N350.
A resident of High Level, Makurdi who simply identified himself as Teseer, said, “If there is no emergency, why do you need to move around, people have been forced to stay indoors.”
Foodstuff prices skyrocket
Checkout Magazine also learnt that a bag of yam flours which was sold at N400,000 two weeks ago in Lagos, now sells at N550,000 as of the time of filing this report.
Also, a bag of rice that was previously sold at N80,000 has been increased to N100,000 according to a foodstuffs seller in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In Bauchi State, traders, customers and transporters of food produce lamented the hike in the prices of commodities.
Speaking with one of our correspondents, a trader in New GRA Bauchi, Anas Yusuf, explained that the cost of transporting goods from Kano to Bauchi skyrocketed due to higher fuel prices.
“When I order goods at a higher price, customers complain, and some even leave without purchasing anything because they can’t afford it. Customers often express their anger, but as a business owner, I have to remain patient to keep them coming,” Anas said.
