RismadarVoice Reporters, March 13, 2026
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over the sharp increase in transport fares following the recent hike in the pump price of petrol across the country. 🚦
Petrol, which was previously sold between ₦835 and ₦875 per litre in the FCT, is now being dispensed at prices ranging from ₦1,200 to ₦1,350, triggering an immediate surge in commuting costs.
Commuters who spoke to newsmen on Friday said commercial vehicle operators had already increased fares by about 100 per cent, warning that the development could further worsen the cost of living.
Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, a civil servant based in Garki, noted that transport fare from Nyanya to the city centre had risen within days of the fuel price adjustment.
“Last week, I paid ₦800 to work, but today I paid ₦1,000. It may look small, but when you calculate it for the whole week, it is a lot,” she said.
Similarly, another commuter, Theresa Godspower, disclosed that she now pays ₦700 from Nyanya to the Federal Secretariat, up from ₦500 previously.
Mr. Musa Abdullahi also told newsmen that his fare from Masaka to the city centre had increased from ₦700 to ₦1,200, while Mr. Godwin Ameh said transport costs from Lugbe to Wuse had moved from ₦800 to ₦1,000, with some drivers charging as high as ₦1,200.
At the outskirts of the capital, the fare from Kuje to Berger reportedly rose from ₦1,300 to ₦1,500, with commercial motorcycle operators also adjusting their charges upward.
A public servant, Mr. Amos Badifu, expressed fears that the rising cost of transportation could soon translate into higher food prices.
“Whenever fuel goes up, transporters increase fares and traders also raise the cost of food items because of transportation,” he said, adding that he expects the prices of major food commodities to rise in the coming days.
Commercial drivers, however, say the fare increases are necessary to remain in business.
A taxi operator, Mr. John Eze, explained that the fluctuating fuel price had made operations difficult.
“Yesterday, I bought fuel at ₦1,250 per litre, but today it is ₦1,350. We have to adjust fares or we will run at a loss,” he said.
Observers also noted a reduction in the number of vehicles on some major roads in the city, as many vehicle owners begin to feel the impact of the fuel hike.
An economist, Dr. Ibrahim Sule, explained that fuel price increases often create a ripple effect across the economy, particularly in transportation and food supply.
According to him, transportation costs constitute a significant component of goods pricing in Nigeria, especially food transported from rural areas to urban markets.
“When fuel prices rise, transport costs increase, and traders usually pass the additional cost to consumers. This is why people fear food inflation may follow,” he said.
Dr. Sule advised government to strengthen social protection measures and improve mass transit systems to cushion the impact on residents.
He also stressed the need for investment in alternative transport options to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on petrol-powered mobility.
