Commuters Face High Fares Despite Promised Transport Cuts

Commuters in Oyo, Enugu, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory are still experiencing high transport fares despite the government's commitment to reduce costs by October 1, 2026. Passengers reported unchanged fares during interviews conducted on October 2, with operators attributing the lack of reductions to high fuel prices and insufficient government support.

The All Progressives Congress had previously agreed to pursue lower transport costs, aiming for a transition to compressed natural gas and electric vehicles to facilitate cheaper fares. However, fares remained unchanged, with specific examples including ₦6,500 for car journeys from Enugu's Gariki terminal and ₦44,020 for online bookings from Enugu to Abuja.

Operators like Caleb Obi expressed frustration over the absence of government interventions, while Mallam Nasir Abu highlighted the high cost of petrol, which ranges from ₦1,450 to ₦1,500 per litre. In contrast, Kaduna's government claimed residents benefit from a free public transport program, although commercial fares remained unchanged.