Stranded Commuters in Nigeria’s Capital Territory Demand Government Intervention

In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, many commuters were left stranded at bus stops on Tuesday due to a sudden increase in transport fares. The hike in fares came just hours after the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, increased its pump price to N855 per litre.

Commuters who spoke to NAN expressed frustration at the development, calling for immediate government intervention in the interest of poor Nigerians. Miss Amina Yusuf, a clerk, said she paid N1,000 from her house in Gudu to Garki where she works, only to find out that the fare had 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," she said.

Another commuter, Mr Kingsley Okoye, lamented that the fare hikes had burdened his finances. "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," he said.

Mrs Jennifer Fabian, who used to spend N200 to get from Nyanya to the city centre, said the sudden increase in fuel prices had led to a further hike in transport costs to N1,200, which was very high compared to her income. "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," she said.

Mr Ahmed Musa, a trader at the Wuse Market, shared his frustration, saying he had to take two different buses just to get to the market every morning, which used to cost him N300 but now costs N600. "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," he said.

The commuters’ plight highlights the impact of the government’s policies on the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians. As the cost of living continues to rise, it is essential that the government takes immediate action to address the suffering of its citizens.