- National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) stated that the current reduction was too small to justify fare adjustments
- Dangote Refinery and NNPCL recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N825 and N860 per litre, respectively.
- Yushu’a Haruna, the organising secretary of NURTW in Kano, argued that the cut had little impact on operational costs due to soaring prices of vehicle parts and repairs.
Road transport operators across Nigeria have ruled out lowering transport fares despite the recent petrol price cuts by Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
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Speaking to reporters, transporters and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) stated that the current reduction was too small to justify fare adjustments, citing the high cost of vehicle maintenance and spare parts.
Dangote Refinery and NNPCL recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N825 and N860 per litre, respectively. However, Yushu’a Haruna, the organising secretary of NURTW in Kano, argued that the cut had little impact on operational costs due to soaring prices of vehicle parts and repairs.
Ado Inuwa Yakasai of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) echoed this concern, pointing out that spare parts remain expensive. He noted that a new tyre, previously priced between N15,000 and N20,000, now sells for N68,000 or more, while an engine for a Sharon vehicle costs around N1.5 million.
Many transporters also complained about long queues at filling stations selling fuel at the reduced rates, forcing them to buy from other outlets at higher prices. They insisted that only a major drop in fuel prices and spare part costs would justify fare reductions.
In Lagos, passengers expressed frustration over unchanged fares despite the fuel price cut. Mudashiru Kilani, a commuter, reported that fares from Egbeda to Ikeja remained at N300, up from N100 in previous years. Similarly, Debo Adewale noted that a trip from Ikeja to Oshodi still cost N200, while the return fare was N300.
A Lagos-based transporter, who preferred anonymity, explained that fuel price reductions were inconsistent across stations, with only MRS and NNPCL reflecting the new rates. He added that maintenance costs remained high, as mechanics and spare part dealers had not lowered their prices.
Austin Orowe, a former chairman of the Airport Shuttle Union, noted that most fuel stations still sell petrol above N900 per litre, making widespread fare reductions impractical. He emphasized that transport costs are influenced by multiple factors, including vehicle servicing, spare parts, and toll fees.
In Kaduna, fares also remained unchanged. Sam Tanko, a transport company manager, confirmed that passengers traveling from Kaduna to Makurdi still paid N12,000, while those traveling from Abuja to Makurdi faced multiple toll charges. Passengers like Jerry Teryima criticized transporters for failing to adjust fares in response to fuel price reductions.
Similar concerns were raised in Kogi, where transport union leaders described the recent fuel price cuts as “insignificant” for fare reductions. Abdulraman Idris of NURTW stated that while transporters hoped for a major price drop, they continued to struggle with passenger shortages due to high fares.
However, in Anambra State, where petrol prices fell from N1,600 to between N970 and N990 per litre, transport fares saw a decline. Fares from Awka to Abuja dropped from N50,000–N60,000 to N35,000–N45,500, while Awka to Lagos fares fell from N40,000–N50,000 to N30,000–N35,000.
Transport companies such as Chisco, Anambra Comfort Line, and God Is Good Motors adjusted their fares accordingly. Similarly, local shuttle fares within Anambra were reduced, with Sunny Star Motors and Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit slashing charges for routes like Awka to Onitsha and Awka to Nnewi.
Managers of these transport firms, Comrade Kingsley Emeka and Mr. Ifeanyi Ofomah, confirmed that their fare reductions were directly linked to the recent fuel price cuts.
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Despite this, in many parts of the country, transporters insist that without a significant drop in fuel prices and spare part costs, fares will remain unchanged.
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