Aminu Imam
By April 2026, the daily routine of millions of Nigerians has quietly turned into a struggle for survival.
At dawn in Abuja, bus stops begin to fill long before sunrise. Civil servants, traders, artisans, and students gather in silence, each calculating how much of their earnings will disappear before the day even begins. For many, getting to work now feels like the biggest expense of living.
The sharp rise in fuel prices has triggered a chain reaction across the economy. Petrol now sells between ₦1,300 and ₦1,450 per litre in the capital, while diesel is edging close to ₦2,000. With salaries largely unchanged, transport fares have surged, food prices have climbed, and the cost of doing business has soared.
For Mohammed Dauda, a commercial bus driver, who spoke to VoL, the numbers no longer add up. He recounts how he spent over ₦50,000 on fuel in a single morning before even picking up his first passenger. By the end of the day, little remains. What used to be profit is now barely enough to keep his vehicle moving. Across town, a civil servant who asked not to be named shares a similar burden. Leaving home before sunrise no longer guarantees cheaper fares. Even at that hour, he pays about ₦1,500 just to reach his office—an amount that steadily eats into his monthly salary.
For others, the situation is even more dire. The ripple effects extend far beyond individuals. Workers commuting from satellite towns such as Mararaba, Suleja, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, Masaka, Keffi, and Abaji say transport costs have multiplied several times over. What used to be manageable daily fares have become overwhelming financial burdens.
Labour leaders warn that the situation is reaching a breaking point. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for urgent government intervention, cautioning that continued price increases could lead to job losses, business closures, and deeper economic hardship.
Behind the rising prices are global forces and local realities—volatile oil markets, currency fluctuations, and a deregulated downstream sector. But for ordinary Nigerians, the causes matter less than the consequences.
Even industry leaders are sounding the alarm. Business magnate Aliko Ɗangote has warned that escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could worsen the crisis. With energy costs affecting everything from small barbershops to large-scale industries, he cautions that no one will be spared if the situation spirals further.
As fuel prices climb, so does the cost of nearly everything else. What was once a manageable expense has become a dominant share of household budgets. For many Nigerians, transportation alone now consumes the bulk of their income—leaving little room for food, savings, or hope.
