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Nigerians Limit Christmas, New Year Travels Over Rising Transport Fares, Biting Fuel Scarcity Under Buhari

Nigerians Limit Christmas, New Year Travels Over Rising Transport Fares, Biting Fuel Scarcity Under Buhari
December 23, 2022

The situation is largely due to the gruelling fuel scarcity situation nationwide

A lot of Nigerians are not enthusiastic about travelling to their communities for Christmas and New Year like in previous years, some motorists have confirmed to SaharaReporters.

The situation is largely due to the gruelling fuel scarcity situation nationwide characteristic of yuletide seasons under the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

For example, in Enugu State, residents are currently lamenting sharp increase in costs of living including transport fares which are skyrocketing.

They complained about an increase in transport fares up to 300 percent which is already choking and worsening the economic situations.

SaharaReporters observed that places where commuters paid N50 were now going for N100 or N150 while places which used to be N100 or N150 now went for N350 or N400 depending the time.

It was observed that from Orie Emene to Old Park which used to be N100 or N150 depending the vehicle now went for N350 or N400 no matter the vehicle.

The situation is made worse as petrol prices in Enugu State capital now go for between N270 to N300 per litre.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, a driver plying Emene - Old Park route said that the sharp increment in transport fare was as a result of skyrocketing prices in the market coupled with increase in fuel pump price.

The driver who gave his name as Chijioke said "We buy fuel N260 or N270 per liter. Four liters of engine oil is now 10,000. This is oil we used to buy N4,000. To fix anything in your vehicle you pay heavily to mechanics. Prices of goods in the market have also increased by double. We have children and family to cater to also."

A federal worker with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) Moses Eze, lamented that he spent half of his salary on transport every month.

Decrying the worsening economic situation, Eze, said that he spent average of N1000 every day to go to work, adding that warders had limited accommodation in their barracks in Enugu.

"I'm in level 8, with N115,000 monthly wage. After deductions my take home payment is N100,000. I spent N32,000 every month on transport to work, so how much remains. I pay N11,000 for 750Gl water every month. From the remaining I feed myself and my family and pay for rent. A bag of rice is now N33,000.

"This is why there are lots of trafficking in custodial centres. Junior staff, some are paid N38,000 and N43,000 take home monthly wages. So, how do you expect these people to cope with the present economic reality and come to work every day. That is slavery," he lamented.

SaharaReporters gathered the high rate of inflation had also pushed lots of families into poverty gradually.

"So many people are not travelling for Christmas and New Year like in previous years. Those who are traveling home, most of them leave their families behind for obvious reasons," a driver with Peace Mass Transit (PMT) told SaharaReporters.