Abuja Workers Abandon Cars Amid Rising Fuel Prices

Many workers in both the public and private sectors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say they can no longer afford to drive their personal vehicles to work daily.

They attributed this to rising fuel prices and the subsequent increase in the cost of living, which has continued to strain their finances and make life more difficult.

It would be recalled that following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023, fuel prices have continued to rise intermittently, with a litre of petrol now selling for nearly N1,400.

Some of the workers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that they had resorted to using staff buses, while others now depend on public transport and carpooling arrangements to reduce transportation costs.

Mrs Anita Ocheme, a civil servant in a federal ministry, said she had parked her car due to the high cost of fuel.

“There was a time I drove to work every day, but now it is no longer sustainable. Driving to work is now a luxury.

“I have never liked public transportation, but because I must go to work, I either join the staff bus or contribute money for fuel when I ride with colleagues,” she said.

Similarly, Mr David Onah, a senior civil servant, said his car had been parked in his compound for over five months because he could no longer afford to fuel it.

Onah said: “Since the fuel crisis started, leading to a steady increase in prices, it has not been easy fueling my car to commute to work.

“Initially, I used to drive to church and family outings during weekends, but for the past five months, the car has just been parked in my compound.

“I am happy that the Federal Government has remembered us by increasing our allowances. “We are hoping that the government, in its good conscience, will implement the promised increment in

allowances for civil servants so we can get some relief.” Meanwhile, Mr Chikamso Obidike, who still drives to work daily, said he had devised a way to manage fuel costs by picking passengers along his route.

“I carry colleagues who contribute to fueling my car, and at other times, I pick other commuters along my route who also pay a certain fee.

“This has helped a lot to cushion the amount of money I would have spent from my limited income if I were to drive alone to and from work every day,” he said.

Obidike also acknowledged the crisis in the Middle East, which has worsened the fuel situation.

He appealed to the government to intervene and provide some relief for citizens, especially civil servants.

NAN findings show that transportation has become one of the most significant daily expenses for many workers, forcing them to adopt survival strategies.

The workers appealed to the government to introduce measures to ease their burden, including transport support, cost-of-living adjustments, and flexible work arrangements.

Akintola Abdullahi, another worker, said informal arrangements had emerged in some offices to help workers cope.

“From what I have gathered, this mechanism is already being deployed in many offices.

“In my department, we now operate a kind of roster. Not everyone comes to the office every day, except on Mondays when we have meetings and full attendance is required.

“We adopted this approach as a unit to enable us save some funds we would have spent on transport and channel them to other necessities,” he said.

Abdullahi reiterated that the arrangement, though unofficial, was helping workers reduce transport expenses.

An economist, Dr Gideon Maigida, said the trend reflects the broader economic realities facing many Nigerians.

“When transport costs rise sharply without a corresponding increase in income, workers are forced to adjust their behaviour.

“What we are seeing is a coping mechanism that has become the reality in the country,” she said.

Maigida added that institutionalising flexible work arrangements and investing in efficient public transport systems could help address the challenge.

Also, a public policy analyst,

Mrs Adenike Adeusi, said the situation could have implications for productivity if not properly managed.

“If workers are worried about how to get to work or are reducing physical presence, it may affect efficiency.

“The government needs to respond quickly with practical support measures to address this,” she said.

For many civil servants, however, the immediate concern remains coping with daily expenses. As they struggle to survive, the greater challenge is sustaining their livelihoods.

NAN reports that the US-Iran conflict has disrupted supply chains and significantly pushed crude oil prices higher.

The latest petrol price report for March released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the average retail price of a litre of petrol increased from N1,051.47 in February 2026 to N1,288.54 in March.

The NBS said the March price represents a 22.55 per cent increase over the February figure.

NAN reports that petrol prices have risen again recently, with most filling stations now selling between N1,370 and N1,400 per litre, depending on location. (NAN)