The continuous adjustment in fuel pump prices by the Nigerian government is taking a heavy toll on citizens, especially with the latest surge in petrol costs.
This year alone, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has raised the price of petrol twice—from N617 to as high as N855 and N950 in Lagos, with some states witnessing prices exceeding N1,000 per liter in just two weeks this September.
These hikes have significantly impacted the cost of transportation and daily market prices, pushing many Nigerians to find alternative ways to cope with the financial strain. However, for many workers, the situation has become unsustainable, leading some to resign from their jobs or resort to drastic measures to cut costs.
Workers Struggling to Survive
Some workers, especially those commuting long distances, are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with rising transportation costs. Many have reported that their salaries, already insufficient, are now being consumed by daily commuting expenses.
Dotun Owoyemi, who works on Lagos Island but lives on the mainland, expressed his frustration:
“Before now, I spent about N800 commuting to and from work. Now, I’m spending between N2,500 and N3,000 daily. These bus drivers are no help either; fares that used to be N200 are now N500, and N100 fares have jumped to N300. My five-figure salary can’t keep up. I had to resign because the N70,000 minimum wage isn’t even applicable in most private companies. The fuel price hike only benefits a few, not salary earners.”
Miss Sandra Douglas, from Port Harcourt, shared a similar sentiment, revealing that her job’s transportation cost had eaten up half her salary:
“I was spending N52,000 a month on transportation for a job that paid less than N100,000. It became impossible to even feed myself, so I resigned.”
Midwives and Other Professionals Affected
The impact isn’t limited to office workers. Mrs. Dorcas Chukwuma, a midwife who worked at a private hospital in Marina, also left her job due to unbearable transportation costs:
“Living on the mainland and working on the Island has become a nightmare. The fare hikes are outrageous, and the prices of food and services are also rising. I had no choice but to find a job closer to home on the mainland. It’s heartbreaking that the government doesn’t seem to consider the masses when introducing these policies. This fuel price increase has deepened poverty in our country.”
Forced Adaptation
While some workers have resigned, others have found alternative ways to survive. Tunde Ayeni, who works in Lekki, now spends his weekdays sleeping at his office to save on transportation:
“My transportation costs shot up from N2,000 to N4,000 daily. With my salary below N100,000, I couldn’t sustain that, so I started sleeping in the office during the week and going home on weekends. It’s ridiculous, but private companies are also struggling and can’t raise salaries to keep up with inflation.”
Bleak Outlook for Many Nigerians
The effects of the rising fuel prices go beyond just transportation. Many Nigerians are now questioning the government’s economic direction, as living conditions worsen. The uncertainty about the future has left many feeling disillusioned and hopeless.
As one worker put it, “We don’t know where this country is heading. Our government has failed us.”
