Residents of Lagos State have continued to lament the impacts of fuel subsidy removal on their daily lives.
According to information obtained by THE QUEST TIMES, these subsidies have created a notable impact on inflation, particularly concerning transportation costs, food prices, and the prices of imported goods.
The removal of fuel subsidies has also affected small businesses, employees, and students in various ways, the paper gathered.
The increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called fuel has reportedly caused untold hardship in the lives of Nigerians across all social classes.
Nigerians ranging from multiple car owners to frequent pliers of the public transport system have one tale of agony or the other to tell.
Low-income earners cried that they have been forced to bear the brunt of it all, as there is more pressure on their scarce resources and funds.
In light of the latest development, THE QUEST TIMES spoke to Lagosians about the rude awakening they have had to deal with following the fuel subsidy removal, and how they are adapting to the current hardship.
Yemi, Software Engineer
“Omo I no dey go office tomorrow ( My friend I cannot go to the office tomorrow ),” Yemi blurted out when asked about how he was coping with the recent fuel and transport price increase.
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“I spent N2,700 to work today. Even with my two days off imagine what I would spend in a week plus feeding.”
Giving a breakdown of his commuting cost from Agege to Gbagada, Yemi disclosed that the price of some routes has risen by 100% overnight.
“From Agege to Ikeja this morning I paid N200 as opposed to N100, from Ikeja under the bridge to Anthony conductor shout N500 (previously N300), I was stunned. When I got to Anthony, I knew the price to Gbagada would have also increased, so when I heard N200, I no fit vex (I couldn’t get angry), I just enter. Now that’s N900 spent on what I used to spend N500 on. I haven’t bought food yet o.
He also lamented that the bus fare still fluctuates and isn’t stable depending on the mood of the driver.
“The prices still usually change,” he said. “For example, I went from Maryland to Newcastle Hotel bus stop, I paid N300. Even Maryland to Anthony I have entered for N300 this week. That same trip used to be N100.
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“So on average, I will be spending over N50,000 on transportation alone. No forget other bills still dey. How much is my salary at the end of the day? It is very frustrating because the price of goods and foodstuffs will start to rise drastically, and you know it’s not like the source (salary) will increase.
Uchenna, Danfo driver
Uchenna Offor a commercial bus (danfo) driver in Lagos state also lamented the untold hardship brought about by the fuel subsidy removal and the corresponding increase in fuel price. According to him, it was tough to make ends meet before the removal, now he says it is even worse.
Uche stated that despite the hike in transport prices, he and other drivers are struggling to break even. He revealed that while passengers think commercial drivers have shifted the brunt of the increase to them, they still bear the majority of the cost.
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Speaking to our correspondent, with a resigned look on his face, he revealed that he had never spent up to N25,000 to buy fuel at a go, but on Tuesday, he did and yet he didn’t get a full tank.
“Passengers are very quick to say we drivers are greedy to increase transport fare, but what else can we do? Even with the increase, we are still struggling my brother.
“I am spending almost everything on fuel and agbero (touts employed by transport unions to collect levies). What about bus repair, feeding, and other things?
According to Uche, the fuel subsidy removal will not only push many out of business but will also put a lot of commercial drivers under heavy financial pressure.
Ojo, Fuel Station Attendant
Just like the average Nigerian worker and commercial transport operator, Fuel station attendants are firsthand witnesses to the hardship brought about by the fuel subsidy removal.
The amount of fuel sold has significantly decreased since the removal of fuel subsidies, according to Ojo, a fuel station attendant in Agege.
He explained that though a large number of people were lining up at gas stations to purchase petrol, on average, each person was purchasing less fuel than before the removal.
According to him, it wasn’t out of the ordinary to see car users casually drive in and fill their tanks but now, even the big luxury cars are not filling their tanks.
He gave the example of one of his regular customers who drives a KIA CERATO. According to him, the cost to fill up the tank of the car used to be less than N10,000, “but this week, the same customer bought the customary N10,000 worth of fuel, and it only filled up to half of the tank.“