Removal of subsidies: Residents of the FCT call on the government to provide train and bus services

On Sunday, a few FCT citizens urged the federal government to provide bus and train service in Abuja to reduce the exorbitant cost of transportation for employees.

The people told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the elimination of the gasoline subsidy has raised the cost of products and services.

However, they said that this had caused Nigerians to endure unspeakable agony.

In light of the increase in fuel prices from N537 to N617, Mr. Sunday Amos, a government servant, said he has found it challenging to get to work.

“Due to the expensive petrol, I’ve had to give up my car.

I used to confidently fill my tank with 10,000 before the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy. I paid N35,000 to fill my tank when the price of fuel rose from N190 to N537.

I’m not sure if I’ll fill the tank up again before further notice now that the price of fuel has jumped to N617 once more.

Since the number of people they can transport does not allow them to break even at the going rate, a lot of public car users have given up using their vehicles, he claimed.

A civil worker and businesswoman named Ngozi Eze claimed that she turned to hiking as a means of reducing the expensive transportation costs.

Because if I take the transport costs out of my pay, I will have nothing, she explained, “I trek even in the heat and rain to reduce transport fare.”

Due to the increase in transportation costs without an equal increase in pay, Mrs Joy Imuzeze, a resident of Dutse, reported finding it more challenging to commute to work.

Because they will have nothing left to hold onto if the transit fare is taken out of their pay, many employees are quitting their jobs voluntarily, according to Imuzeze.

Public employee Mr. Emmanuel Odey stated that there had been a behavioural change at his workplace, adding that the situation was embarrassing for everyone, including the employers.

“Due to companies’ decision to fire employees, this circumstance could raise the already high unemployment rate.

“I think the situation will be better,” he added. “If the government provides buses that can convey a lot of people from different areas of Abuja into the city centres.”