• Abuja residents groan as food prices, transport fare spike over fuel subsidy removal
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
In less than a month President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over the mantle of leadership, he has made two pronouncements that unsettled Nigeria’s economic landscape. The petrol subsidy removal was the first. It spiked the petrol pump price from N184/litre to as high as N570/litre in some states.
Then followed the unification of the exchange rate. It saw naira tumbling from N461 to a dollar to about N755 to a dollar. The economy reacted to the policies with prices of foods and other goods reaching stratospheric heights.
Expectedly, residents in the Federal Capital Territory are wailing over a remarkable increase in prices of various commodities and services. Top on their horror list is the hike in transportation fares with no succour in sight.
Being a majorly administrative environment, many civil servants, especially those in the lower cadre, say they can no longer afford to come to work five times a week as stipulated by the rules of engagement. According to them, the hike in transport fare without a corresponding salary increase was tantamount to economic suicide, especially if they must come to work as expected.
They want Tinubu to revert to status quo or urgently fatten their salaries. A survey by Daily Sun showed the fare from Kubwa to Berger, which used to be N250 to N300, has risen to N500. The fare from Kubwa to Area 1 jumped from N400 to N700 during off-peak hours. For the peak periods, it hovers between N800 and N850.
Similarly, the cost of commuting from Airport junction to Lugbe increased from N200 to N400. The fare from AYA to Central Area also increased from N150 to N300, while the fare from Central Area to Kuje rose from N500 to N800. From Lugbe to Berger equally increased from N200 to N300. Also, tricycle fares from NNPC junction to Across increased from N200 to 300.
The hike in fare also affected foodstuffs. For grocery shoppers, N200 red bell peppers reduced to two pieces from four or five pieces.
Residents lamented that the subsidy removal hit them like a thunderbolt. Wale Banjoko, a civil servant, groaned: “We didn’t see the sudden removal of petrol subsidy coming. We were told that the subsidy regime would exist till June. That was the time we were looking at.
“But alas! Tinubu shocked us on May 29 in his speech as he said the subsidy was gone. No additional salary, no palliatives whatsoever.
This is hell.”
Another civil servant, Joy Emeka: “Most civil servants owning vehicles now use them for commercial purposes while coming to work and returning home. It eases their burden. I am appealing to government to help us by increasing our salaries. Everything in the market is affected by this subsidy issue.”
Happiness Bako, a worker at Central Market Plaza, Kubwa, said: “It has not been easy for some of us, especially those who are doing roadside jobs. My salary is just N30,000. I work daily and the transportation was N200 before and there is an increase of N200 so what am I working for? I was managing it before but with this recent development, it can’t work. It is practically impossible to survive.
“The Federal Government is talking about palliatives for major oil marketers. I am scared it won’t get to some of us. The best thing to do is to try to return to the former pump price because it is we the poor masses that are suffering the consequences.
“A friend told me that the government is talking about bicycles as another means of transportation. If I may ask, how many rich men can ride bicycles to their offices? All these things are pouring down on the poor masses. They should help us.”
Reuben Emeh, a baker, said: “I used to spend N1,200 to and fro work.
With the way things are now, when I went on Wednesday I spent close to N3,000 to and fro. Today, I decided to stay at home. I pray this is resolved soon if not some of us won’t be able to survive.”
Many primary and secondary school students now trek long distances to their schools as their parents can no longer afford to pay their transportation fare. One of them told Daily Sun: “I have never suffered this way before. I had to trek because the N150 my mummy gave to me could not cover my expenses to and from school. I spent it on snacks as I joined the trekkers’ association”.
A student of Royal Ambassador, Dutse, Muhammad Sule: “My mum, who used to give me transport fare to school, is now telling me about her days when they used to trek to school. But this is not how we started, so it is becoming very difficult for me. I had to trek long distances before using a tricycle to complete it. My school is very far from my house and my parents have refused to increase my fare.”
John Joseph, a trader at Dutse Market, said: “I sell raw foodstuffs.
But I must admit that sales have crashed remarkably. My customers are now cash-strapped. My goods have increased in price. Double blow for me and my customers.”
A commercial taxi driver, Ayo Abraham, plies the Berger-Kubwa route.
He said: “You don’t expect me to carry passengers at the old price after buying fuel at this new price. It is we the drivers that are suffering the most because at times, you won’t make the money you use in buying fuel.”
A commercial tricyclist, Amaechi Chime, that plies the Jabi Garage-Dakibiu axis said business has collapsed due to the hike in petrol price.