News

High Transport Fares, Insecurity Cast Doubts On Christmas Travel Plans For Nigerians

Published

1 month ago

Dec 1, 2024.

As the festive season draws near, many Nigerians are grappling with the rising costs of transport fares and mounting security concerns, making their annual travels to ancestral homes seem increasingly out of reach.

A significant hike in fuel prices, which have risen from N671 per litre in December 2023 to over N1,000 at some filling stations, has driven transport costs up across the country.

For instance, a trip from Lagos to Enugu, which cost around N19,000 last year, now exceeds N41,000. Fares for journeys to other regions, including Owerri, Aba, and Abuja, have also soared.

While last year’s government subsidy on transportation, which slashed fares and offered free train rides, provided some relief, there is no such assistance on the horizon for this holiday season.

The combination of high fuel prices and insecurity, particularly in the northern and eastern regions, has led to widespread reluctance among Nigerians to travel.

Many families, especially those in Lagos, are rethinking their plans. For example, Mr. Blessing Nwokejiegbe, a member of the Nsu Development Union, expressed concerns over the safety of road travel, citing frequent kidnappings and attacks.

Similarly, traders like Muhammed Isa, who had planned to visit family in the north, are reconsidering due to the sharp rise in transport fares and the threat of violence. “The cost of travel is unbearable, and I’m afraid to make the trip,” Isa said.

transport fares travel

In states like Kwara, Gombe, and Sokoto, residents have voiced similar worries, with transport fares rising by up to 400 percent. The fear of rising insecurity, particularly in areas like Benue and Anambra, further exacerbates the dilemma. Some Nigerians, including Chief Ephraim Emeka, an elderly Igbo man, have reluctantly decided to stay home for the holidays, unable to afford the steep travel costs.

As Nigerians prepare for a potentially quiet festive season, many are calling for urgent intervention to mitigate the financial and security challenges they face.