Abuja Residents Dump Private Cars as Fuel Prices Soar

Abuja Residents Dump Private Cars as Fuel Prices Soar

The persistent rise in petrol prices is forcing many residents of the Abuja to abandon their private vehicles and embrace public transportation, while a growing number of low-income earners now trek to work to survive worsening economic conditions.

The development comes amid fresh increases in fuel prices across Nigeria following rising global crude oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East and recent upward adjustments in depot prices by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and petroleum marketers.

Petrol prices in parts of Abuja and other major cities have climbed to between ₦1,350 and ₦1,400 per litre, significantly increasing transportation and living costs for residents already struggling with inflation and declining purchasing power.

Checks across major roads in the Federal Capital Territory showed a noticeable drop in vehicular traffic, particularly along the usually busy Kubwa expressway between the Suleja and Madalla axis, where congestion has reduced compared to previous months.

Residents say many motorists now reserve their vehicles for emergencies or weekends due to the high cost of fueling.

A civil servant living in Dutse Alhaji, Sholape Kolawole, said she stopped using her car several months ago because her salary could no longer sustain daily fuel expenses.

“It has been stressful using commercial vehicles, but I have no choice since I cannot afford to fuel my car every day to work,” she said.

“To cut costs, I stopped using the car and resolved to taking commercial vehicles to the office and back. It is also expensive, but still cheaper than using my car.”

Commercial transport operators are also feeling the impact of the fuel crisis. A transporter based in Kubwa village, James Obasi, said many operators had scaled down operations because unstable fuel prices were making business unsustainable.

He warned that the situation was hurting small businesses and called for urgent government intervention to stabilise fuel costs and support transport operators.

Another resident, Emmanuel Ajayi, said he had not bought petrol for his vehicle in months and now depends on multiple commercial vehicles daily, a situation he said was affecting his health and productivity.

The rising transport costs have also pushed more residents to trek short and medium distances within the city, especially during morning and evening rush hours, as commuters struggle to cope with increasing fares.

Development expert and customer experience specialist, Dr Aliyu Ilias, described the situation as alarming, noting that many workers now stay home on some days because they cannot afford transportation expenses.

According to him, the hardship is partly connected to instability in the global oil market caused by geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.

He argued that as an oil-producing nation, Nigeria should ordinarily benefit from rising crude prices, but citizens are yet to feel any direct relief despite reports of increased government oil revenues.

“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,” he said.

“Such a strategy can help stabilise fuel prices and reduce pressure on transportation and living costs.”

He added that the economic consequences of rising petrol prices were severe, warning that disposable income had almost disappeared for many households as purchasing power continues to weaken.

The National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, also described the fuel price increase as an economic shock capable of crippling Nigeria’s informal sector.

He warned that thousands of small businesses that rely heavily on petrol-powered operations could collapse if urgent steps are not taken.

“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,” he said.

“This will trigger a dangerous surge in unemployment, particularly among youths and women, thereby worsening social instability and insecurity.”

Onwubiko called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene by implementing price stabilisation measures and stronger regulatory oversight to protect consumers from exploitative market conditions.

Economic analysts say the latest fuel price crisis once again exposes Nigeria’s vulnerability to fluctuations in global oil prices despite being one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers.

The situation has also reignited debates over domestic refining capacity, fuel subsidy alternatives, and the need for sustainable transportation policies as millions of Nigerians continue to grapple with the rising cost of living.

 

Abuja Residents Dump Private Cars as Fuel Prices Soar