Commuters and motorists across Nigeria’s South-East continue to grapple with high petrol prices and rising transport fares, despite the Federal Government’s fuel discount initiative announced by President Bola Tinubu.
Twenty days after the commencement of the promised reduction, residents in several states across the region say they are yet to experience significant relief, with petrol still selling for between N1,350 and N1,500 per litre in different locations.
In Anambra State, petrol sold for between N1,450 and N1,500 per litre on Monday and Tuesday, contributing to increased transport fares for intra-state and inter-state journeys.
Findings by The PUNCH across major towns, including Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Awka, showed that high fuel prices continued to affect motorists, commuters, traders and other residents.
Although some Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) mega and mini retail outlets in Awka reportedly offered petrol at reduced prices, many remained closed, while some of those operating did not dispense the product.
The situation has left transport fares fluctuating daily, with commercial operators adjusting their charges according to the prices at which they purchase petrol.
Commuters now pay between N300 and N400 for some routes that previously cost N200, while journeys that cost N500 have increased to between N800 and N1,000.
At the Upper Iweka Motor Park in Onitsha, transport operators charged about N2,000 for trips to Awka, compared with the previous fares of between N1,000 and N1,500.
Travellers heading to neighbouring states have also faced higher transportation costs.
At Star Sunny Motor Park in Onitsha, fares on routes to Awka and Enugu reportedly increased by as much as N2,000.
The rising cost of transportation has also affected the prices of goods and services in markets, with traders and service providers attributing the increases to higher fuel and logistics expenses.
A commercial driver at Solution Park in Awka, Chukwudi Ezeh, said the increase in transport fares was a direct consequence of rising petrol prices.
“The increase in fares is expected as a result of the increase in the pump price of petrol,” he said.
“The increase started early last week when it was sold for N1,300 and it continued until it got to about N1,450 over the weekend.”
Another transporter at Nnewi Triangle Park, Chidi Onyekachukwu, said the unstable price of petrol had negatively affected drivers’ earnings.
“Our daily income has been badly affected by the instability in the price of fuel. To recoup these costs, we have no choice but to raise fares slightly so we can still make a take-home income,” he said.
A commuter, Ifeoma Obiora, a civil servant who lives in Onitsha but works in Awka, said she now pays N2,000 for a one-way trip, up from N1,500.
Abia residents demand government intervention
In Abia State, petrol reportedly sold for between N1,370 and N1,400 per litre, with motorists insisting that the commodity remained expensive despite the Federal Government’s intervention.
A minibus driver, Chikezie Okezie, questioned the impact of the initiative, arguing that transportation costs remained high.
“Are we going back or forward? Nigeria, as an oil-producing country, should not be facing such a predicament. Transportation is still high,” he said.
Another driver, Joel Egwim, who operates on the Umuahia-Aba route, said commercial transport operators had yet to experience any meaningful reduction in fuel prices.
Although there were no reported long queues, widespread scarcity or restrictions associated with the new prices, residents said the cost of petrol continued to affect their daily activities.
A perishable goods trader, Mrs Ekeoma Njikonye, a civil servant, Georgina Okere, and an SS3 student, Mabel Otuonye, called on the Federal Government to intervene and provide relief.
Otuonye argued that reducing transport fares would depend largely on a corresponding reduction in petrol prices.
“Reduction in transport fare can only come through reduction in fuel prices,” she said.
Imo drivers describe discount as ineffective
In Imo State, commercial drivers also expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the fuel discount, saying the initiative had made little difference to their operating costs.
A commercial bus driver who identified himself as Ozoamaka said petrol prices remained high despite the government’s announcement.
“We are still buying fuel at high prices. NNPC sells at over N1,400. You will notice that if there actually is a reduction in NNPC stations, there will be queues at the NNPC fuel stations,” he said.
A tricycle operator, identified simply as Mr Uwaiz, described the discount as ineffective, noting that independent marketers were selling petrol at competitive prices.
“There is nothing like fuel discount. Today, independent marketers are selling at N1,390 and drivers prefer to buy from there than going to NNPC fuel stations because there is no difference,” he said.
“Transportation fare has remained the same. We expect a drop in fare as a result of the discount, but there’s no impact.”
In parts of Owerri, the Imo State capital, petrol reportedly sold for no more than N1,380 per litre at some filling stations, while prices in other areas fluctuated between N1,350 and N1,400.
A fuel attendant at an NNPCL station in Owerri, who requested anonymity, said the reduction had not significantly improved sales.
“I don’t remember selling to more than five people with the fuel price reduction. I think the challenge is that people don’t have money to buy more,” the attendant said.
The attendant added that most customers purchased small quantities, while inter-state drivers tended to buy larger volumes less frequently.
Residents in Bayelsa, students count rising costs
The impact of high fuel prices has also been felt by residents travelling between Bayelsa and Imo states.
A civil servant in Yenagoa, Stephen Amaebi, who travels to Owerri every weekend to visit his family, said his transport fare had remained at N7,000 despite reports of a price reduction.
Students in Imo State also complained about the cost of daily transportation.
Nkechi Okere, a student, said she still spent between N600 and N1,000 travelling from the World Bank area to Imo State University (IMSU) each day.
She added that fares sometimes increased when it rained, attributing the changes to what she described as the exploitative behaviour of some drivers.
The complaints highlight the continuing difficulties faced by residents across the South-East as petrol prices and transport costs remain high despite the Federal Government’s discount initiative.
Commuters and transport operators are calling for more effective implementation of the policy, insisting that any meaningful reduction in petrol prices should translate into lower transportation costs and relief for households already struggling with the rising cost of living.
