In Nigeria, rising transportation costs are forcing workers to reconsider their jobs.
With fuel prices tripling and stagnant salaries, many are left with little after commuting expenses.
Frustrated, they’re taking to social media to voice their struggles, contemplating resignation as fares soar.
The rise in cost of petrol began after President Tinubu removed subsidy on petrol on the day of his swearing-in in May of 2023.
Now, workers are feeling the pressure, as transportation fares continue to rise.
Unfortunately, salaries have stayed the same, with many struggling to make ends meet.
The sudden surge in fuel prices has caused transport fares to triple, leaving workers with barely enough to cover their commuting costs.
Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) increased the price of petrol from ₦568 to ₦950 per litre.
This dramatic 67% hike has forced commercial transporters to raise their fares, creating a heavy burden for workers.
As a result, many have taken to social media to express their frustrations and share their concerns.
One worker, Chude, shared his thoughts on X, stating that the current fuel situation in Nigeria feels traumatic.
He warned that many young Nigerians might stop going to work this October because they could not cope with the soaring transportation fares without an increase in their salaries.
Chude revealed that some people are spending up to ₦40,000 each week just to commute.
With salaries ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000, he wondered how anyone could manage under these conditions.
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As the situation worsens, many workers have resorted to walking to work.
Crisis For Nigerian Workers
Even top civil servants and corporate employees are cutting back on driving due to the high cost of petrol.
A user named @Iamjudith17 tweeted: “I now trek halfway before entering any vehicle”.
Experts have raised alarms about the rising unemployment rates if more workers choose to resign.
They urge the government and relevant stakeholders to find real solutions to the soaring transport costs.
Some workers have already had to leave their jobs due to the unbearable transportation expenses.
Oluwafemi, who lives on the mainland in Lagos, explained that he resigned when he realized how much of his salary was spent on commuting.
“I resigned last year when fuel prices went from ₦128 to ₦625 per litre.
“I can’t cope with going to the Island from the mainland three times a week on a salary of less than ₦150,000,” he tweeted.
Maria Harlod also shared her experience. She says she resigned in July 2024 because she could no longer handle the hike in transport fares.
“I resigned in July. I couldn’t deal,” she tweeted.
As workers face the challenge of rising transportation costs, the need for action from the government and other stakeholders has never been more urgent.
