Scores of residents of Lagos State, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, decried transport fare hike due to an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

It would be recalled that the NNPCL, on Tuesday, September 3, increased the pump price of petrol to N855 per litre at its outlets.

Lagos residents described the current fuel situation in Nigeria as biting, saying it had affected transport.

A businesswoman, Beatrice Okonkwo, said the increase had become frustrating to low-income earners.

Okonkwo said: “Today, I stepped out to get to my child’s school, and I noticed an increase in transport fare.

“From Gate to Cele Bus Stop, which used to be N200, is now N300, and from Ijesha to Yaba, which was N200 by tricycle, is now N400.

“Drivers are even saying they would further increase the fares to be able to recoup money they spent on fueling.”

She appealed to the federal government to do more to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

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A civil servant, who simply identified herself as Modinot, urged the government to address the fuel situation urgently.

According to Modinot, transport fare from Ipaja to Costain through Oshodi increased from N1,000 to N1,700 on Wednesday.

Modinot lamented that workers were facing the increase while they were yet to be paid the new minimum wage.

“Government should listen to our cries,” she stressed.

A banker, Tope Okunola, disclosed that commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists also increased their charges.

Okunola said commuters had always suffered from any increase in petrol price.

She stated: “We are not finding it funny at all. Before, in my area, Festac Town, I paid N200 to the next junction, but today (Wednesday) it cost N300.

“As transport fare goes up, so will foodstuffs prices in the markets. The ordinary person cannot eat again.

“Government should really address the situation fast.”

The Star