Borno residents have started trekking, riding bicycles, or using horses due to the increase in fuel prices.
The pump price was raised from N617 to N855 per liter at NNPC fuel stations on September 3rd.
Many residents and workers, including civil servants, have stopped using their vehicles.
On Thursday, September 5th, according to Punch, there were fewer vehicles on the roads and more people walking, riding horses, or bicycles.
Dadoon Pam, a graphic designer, said that the fuel price hike has affected his work. He said: “This fuel price hike has affected me terribly because as a graphic designer, I need electricity to make my design. Now that we depend solely on fuel to work, this increase means I now have to charge my clients more. Though it will be bad for business, I don’t have any option as we speak.”
Jeremiah Blessing, who works for an NGO in Maiduguri, said that she now has to walk part of the way to work and take a tricycle. She said: “What I do now is to break my movement, trek to a point, then take Keke from there. Since the hike in fuel prices, it has not been easy because I go to work late almost every day. Sometimes, I stand up to 10 to 30 minutes before seeing a tricycle going towards my direction because many riders have packed their tricycle due to the price increase.”
Tuja Mai Abba, a retired Customs officer, said that he has stopped using his car and is now taking tricycles. According to him: According to him, “The government is confusing us about this issue of fuel subsidy and availability. You hear one story today and another story tomorrow. It is seriously affecting me, I have abandoned my car for a while now.”
Daniel Omolara, a member of an NGO, said that he has never left his car at home to go to work before, but now he might have to.
He said: “Since I brought my car down to Maiduguri, I have never for one day left it at home to go to work. But today, if I try to drive that car out, I may push it back home. There is no money to buy fuel at that rate. Honestly, N5,000 fuel can no longer take me a day. Where will I be getting such money from?”
