Petrol Price: Low Income Earners Face Job Losses As Transportation Fares Soar

The recent surge in petrol prices in Nigeria has led to a massive increase in transportation costs, placing immense financial strain on low-income earners and escalating the cost of essential goods and services.

This situation has sparked widespread public outcry and protests, with citizens demanding government intervention to alleviate the economic burden.

As reported, the hike in petrol prices has seen costs soar to between N850/litre and N1,400 per litre, depending on the area. This increase has exacerbated financial hardships for many Nigerians, particularly those from low-income households who are already struggling to survive on meager earnings. The daily journey to work, school, or the market has become a substantial financial burden, leading to growing anxiety among millions of Nigerians.

Prominent figures have voiced their concerns over the issue. Archbishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, urged President Bola Tinubu and the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and reverse the petrol price hike.

He poignantly remarked, “I once asked a girl if she is in the APC, PDP, or Labour and she said ‘I am hungry.’ And so, since I am speaking to those who are in power, please know that we, Nigerians, are hungry. Find a way of reducing the price of fuel. Find a way of keeping our country secure. That will be the greatest legitimacy of any government.”

Similarly, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) condemned the recent increase in the pump price of petrol. Yerima Shettima, the President-General of the forum, criticized the hike, noting that the government has lost touch with the reality of things in the country.

He stated, “The government urged Nigerians to refrain from protests with promises of improvement, only to exacerbate their struggles by unexpectedly raising petrol prices. For me, the federal government should have a rethink on the numerous challenges. President Bola Tinubu must allow Nigerians to breathe, because with the current state of affairs, angry and hungry Nigerians are being pushed to the wall, and the reaction of a hungry and angry person may be unimaginable.”

The impact of the petrol price hike is evident in the testimonies of various low-income earners. A sales representative, Amina Abubakar, expressed her difficulty in balancing her budget due to increased transportation costs, stating, “The increase in petrol price has added to my transportation costs, and I’m struggling to afford necessities like food and rent. We expected so much from this government, but what we are seeing now is heartbreaking.”

Another resident, Eche John, highlighted the drastic rise in his daily commute expenses, saying, “I usually spent N800 to work but now spend N1500 since the announcement of the new fuel pump price. This transport thing is something else. The truth of the matter is that salaries have not increased while many people are already losing their jobs.”

The situation has also led to job losses and resignations as individuals find it increasingly difficult to manage their finances. A private security personnel, Hassan Abdul, who recently resigned from his job, lamented, “My salary was N40,000 and I have a wife and a kid to cater for. Now, after calculating how much I would be spending on transportation alone, I discovered I would still be borrowing money to meet up. Instead of continuing, I had to resign and begin to think of what to do next. I don’t even know what next as I speak with you now.”

The rising transportation costs have also affected commercial activities. A commercial motorcyclist, Uche Emeka, decried the lack of passengers and the difficulty in obtaining fuel for his motorcycle, noting, “These days, people no longer enter okada. They rather choose to trek to their destinations. I don’t blame them anyway, because after they must have spent over N2000 on transportation already, they would like to cut down on the cost. How much is even the salary? We are just in trouble in this country.”