According to a reports, the rising cost of transportation in Nigeria remains a pressing issue, particularly for workers who are struggling to cope with the surge in fuel prices and its impact on their daily lives. Many Nigerians have expressed concerns over how the increase in petrol prices has eroded their purchasing power, affecting their ability to manage basic expenses such as food, housing, and commuting.
Low-income earners, especially those in the civil service across various states, are among the hardest hit by the soaring cost of petrol. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has raised fuel prices three times this year, with pump prices increasing from N568 to N855 and N998 per litre in Lagos, and surpassing N1,030 in other states. These adjustments have driven up transportation costs significantly, forcing many Nigerians to seek alternative ways to survive.
The effects are evident in public transport fares. For instance, commuting from Ojuelegba to Victoria Island (VI) now costs over N2,000, up from N1,200. Trips from VI to Oshodi have risen to N1,800 from N800, while Ojuelegba to Apapa now costs N500 instead of N300. Similarly, the fare from Oshodi to Mile 2 has doubled from N400 to N800, and Maryland to Mile 2 has increased from N1,000 to N1,500. The journey from Sango Ota to Oshodi now costs N1,500, compared to N800 previously.
These escalating costs have forced many employees to quit their jobs, as their salaries are no longer sufficient to cover transportation expenses. Workers argue that spending their entire earnings—and in some cases, borrowing — just to commute is unsustainable. The high rate of resignations is exacerbating the country’s already critical unemployment situation.
Human resource professionals have confirmed a surge in resignation letters since the increase in fuel prices. A Head of HR at a Lagos Island-based company revealed that in just two months, August and September, his organization received an unprecedented number of resignations, further highlighting the severe impact of the transportation crisis on the workforce.
SOURCE: Olaniyi225523