Many car owners in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory have resorted to using public transportation following the hike in the pump price of petrol.
Low-income earners, who can barely afford rising transport fares, are also trekking to work to cope with the economic strain.
Findings by the News Agency of Nigeria showed that usually busy routes, including the Kubwa expressway and the Suleja–Madalla axis in Abuja, are now witnessing reduced vehicular movement, especially on weekdays, as many residents can no longer afford to fuel their cars.
Other major roads across the FCT have recorded similar trends, in contrast to the heavy traffic and long travel times previously experienced before the fuel price increase.
A public servant, Sholape Kolawole, who lives in Dutse Alhaji, said she had abandoned her car for months due to the rising cost of petrol.
“It has been stressful using commercial vehicles. I have no choice since I cannot afford to fuel my car, and my salary is not enough to buy fuel every day to work.
“To cut costs, I just stopped using the car for now and resolved to taking commercial vehicles to the office and back, which is also expensive but not as much as using my car,” she said.
Another resident, James Obasi, a commercial transporter in Kubwa village, said the situation had disrupted business for many operators.
“The fuel situation has increased at unexpected times, impacting many small businesses negatively,” he said, urging the Federal Government to take deliberate policy action.
Similarly, Emmanuel Ajayi said he had been unable to fuel his car for months, adding that the stress of switching between multiple public transport options was taking a toll on his health.
He called on the government to act swiftly to address the situation and ease the burden on citizens.
A development expert, Aliyu Ilias, attributed the hardship partly to global oil market disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions, noting that Nigeria, as an oil-producing nation, should ordinarily benefit from rising crude prices.
He said, “One practical solution will be for the Federal Government to provide crude oil to local refineries at reduced rates, enabling them to refine and sell petrol at more affordable prices.
“Such a strategy can help stabilise fuel prices and reduce the pressure on transportation and living costs.
“The economic consequences are severe. Purchasing power has declined sharply, and disposable income has almost disappeared for many households.”
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubikor, described the petrol price hike as an “economic ambush” on Nigerians.
“Barbing salons, welding workshops, small-scale manufacturers, transport operators, and countless petty traders who depend on petrol for daily operations will be forced to shut down.
“This will trigger a dangerous surge in unemployment, particularly among youths and women, thereby worsening social instability and insecurity.
“We therefore demand immediate and decisive intervention by President Bola Tinubu to halt this reckless escalation of petrol prices,” he said.