By Abubakar Yunusa & news Agency
C
ommercial tricycle operators in the Federal Capital Territory have increased fares on several routes by up to N100 following a fresh rise in petrol prices, with commuters lamenting the growing cost of movement across Abuja.
The latest fare hike followed an N85 increase in Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s gantry price from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, as petrol prices rose to between N1,410 and N1,450 per litre amid elevated global crude oil prices.
According to NAN on Sunday showed that commuters on several routes were already paying higher fares.
The fare from Gudu to Lokogoma Junction rose from N200 to N300, while passengers travelling from Kabusa Junction to Apo Roundabout now pay N400 instead of N300.
Similarly, the fare from Dutse Express to Tipper Garage Junction increased from N400 to N500.
The Dutse Express to Sokale Roundabout route also rose from N300 to N400.
In Nyanya, commuters now pay N500 from Nyanya Junction to City College, while the Chika Bridge to Lugbe route increased from N100 to N200.
The fare from Kubwa Village Junction to Byazim also rose to N400.
A tricycle operator in Kubwa, Saidu Mohamed, attributed the increase to the rising cost of petrol, maintenance and spare parts.
Another operator in Dutse, Haruna Abdullahi, said he bought petrol at N1,430 per litre, describing the rising cost as an increasing financial burden.
An operator in Kabusa, Ibrahim Dauda, said he also purchased petrol at N1,430 per litre at an AY Shafa filling station.
Dauda said the impact of rising fuel costs was being felt beyond transportation.
“It is affecting other aspects of daily life,” he said.
But commuters said the latest fare increase had further squeezed household finances.
A Kubwa resident, Daniel Aaron, said the rising fares were making it increasingly difficult for residents to move around and earn a living.
“I find it very difficult to move around for my daily bread again because of the increase in transportation,” he said.
Another commuter, Tony Akinbode, said he had reduced his movements because of the rising cost of transportation.
“When you get to the market, traders too are complaining that things are high because of the increase in fuel prices,” he said.
Akinbode urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene and introduce measures capable of stabilising fuel prices.
Another commuter, Jimoh Bashir, said the fare increases were affecting several routes across the nation’s capital.
He said passengers now had to spend more on daily trips to workplaces, markets, schools and other destinations.
According to him, some of the new fares were introduced with little notice, forcing commuters to adjust their daily transportation budgets.
Apo resident, Florence Peters, also called for measures to make public transportation more affordable and accessible.
She said transportation remained a major component of residents’ daily expenses.
Meanwhile, a public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo, raised concerns about the Federal Government’s promotion of compressed natural gas as an alternative to petrol.
Ojo said CNG was promoted by the administration of President Bola Tinubu as a cheaper alternative following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He, however, argued that motorists could not access CNG in the same way petrol could be purchased when filling stations were unavailable.
Ojo also stressed that CNG should not be confused with cooking gas, noting that both required different infrastructure and distribution systems.
He urged the Federal Government to do more to cushion the effect of fuel price vlatility while improving domestic crude supply, refining capacity and access to alternative fuels.
The latest adjustment came amid broader increases in transportation costs as FCT residents continue to contend with higher expenses for daily movement.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, had recently warned that domestic petrol prices would continue to respond to changes in global crude oil prices.
Ukadike urged the Federal Government to supply crude to domestic refineries at prices slightly below international market levels.
He also called for a review of statutory charges affecting the distribution of petroleum products.
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