FCT transport fares

  Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory have welcomed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) N66-per-litre petrol discount, but some commuters say the initiative has done little to reduce transport fares as the October 31 deadline approaches. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, residents expressed mixed reactions to the 30-day discount scheme. While some motorists said it offered relief at the pump, commuters complained that the cost of daily transportation remained high. The Federal Government introduced the discount at NNPC retail outlets, with public transport operators given priority under the arrangement. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the initiative was not a return to petrol subsidy. He also disclosed that the government was negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on petrol’s ex-gantry or landing cost to reduce sharp price fluctuations. Meanwhile, Dangote Petroleum Refinery reduced its gantry petrol price by N25 per litre, from N1,350 to N1,325. A Wuse-based motorist, Abubakar Saidu, commended the government for introducing the discount but identified long queues and network problems as challenges affecting access to the scheme. Saidu said he purchased petrol through the NNPC app after completing the required registration process, paying N1,339 per litre. However, he noted that delays and connectivity issues sometimes made it difficult for customers to benefit. “I downloaded the app and followed the procedure before buying the petrol at N1,339 per litre,” he said. However, some commuters said the discount had not translated into lower transport fares. Obi Anyawu, a resident of Nyanya, said rising transportation costs continued to put pressure on Nigerians, particularly those who travelled to work daily. “The transportation fare keeps increasing, and there has not been any difference,” he said. Similarly, a Karu-based commuter, Stephanie Okoro, said she had yet to notice any positive impact from the intervention. “I have not benefited from the intervention, and I have not seen any positive impact it has, even among the transporters,” she said. Okoro added that high fares continued to make commuting difficult, leaving some passengers struggling to find affordable transport. A Bwari-based motorist, Jide Oyetola, called for a review of the initiative and additional measures to reduce transportation costs. He said the rising cost of commuting was affecting workers’ ability to meet their daily expenses, citing the experience of his secretary, whose salary could no longer comfortably cover her transport fares. According to Oyetola, she was considering reducing the number of days she reported to work because of the financial strain. He argued that waiting for cheaper buses might not provide a lasting solution, adding that many other workers could be facing similar difficulties. Another commuter, Nonye Obanla, who lives in Dutse, also urged the government to introduce further measures to ease transportation costs and reduce the economic pressure on citizens. With the discount scheme due to end on October 31, concerns remain over whether the intervention will provide meaningful relief to commuters facing high transport fares.