Frustration is mounting across Nigeria as commuters continue to grapple with stubbornly high transportation fares, a stark contrast to the recent reduction in fuel pump prices and the government’s push for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption. Passengers in key states like Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo are pointing fingers at the pervasive influence of transport unions, alleging their levies are the primary reason for the sustained exorbitant costs.
Many Nigerians report that travel expenses remain significantly inflated, with fares having nearly quadrupled since the peak of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) prices. This increase has severely impacted household budgets and the viability of small businesses reliant on affordable transportation.
Investigations reveal that commercial drivers face a daily barrage of mandatory fees imposed by transport unions at various parks. These levies, often encompassing booking, loading, and ticketing charges, directly erode drivers’ earnings and are inevitably passed on to passengers in the form of higher fares. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data corroborates this trend, showing a substantial year-on-year increase in average intercity bus fares.
Both commuters and commercial drivers are vocal in their criticism of the current regulatory landscape, which they perceive as allowing transport unions to operate unchecked. They argue that these unions’ financial demands effectively nullify any potential relief from lower fuel prices or alternative energy sources like CNG.
The high cost of transportation is cited as a major contributor to the rising cost of living and a significant impediment to economic growth, particularly for small and medium-scale enterprises.
Calls for government intervention to regulate the transport sector and curb the financial power of these unions are intensifying. Drivers, in particular, express feeling impoverished by the current system, where a significant portion of their income is absorbed by union levies, leaving little for personal savings or business reinvestment.
