Residents of Maiduguri are grappling with a sharp rise in transportation costs, with fares increasing by 50% after fuel prices skyrocketed to N1,250 per liter at private filling stations on Wednesday.
Many fuel stations in the city, including the NNPC retail outlet, remain closed, pushing residents to rely on private stations and black-market sellers for fuel. Babagana Wakil, a local resident, shared his frustration, stating, “I bought fuel at N1,250 from the only open station along Baga Road.”
The fuel price hike has drastically affected daily commuting. Mabel Jeremiah, another resident, expressed her shock when tricycle fares jumped from N150 to N250 for a short trip. “This is unbearable; we can’t keep living like this,” she said.
Tricycle riders, facing fuel scarcity, have also increased their fares. Illiyasu Ibrahim, a rider, confirmed, “I bought black-market fuel for N1,500 and had no choice but to raise my fares.”
Meanwhile, others like Ajas Jubulu, who runs a phone charging business, mentioned paying slightly lower at N1,150 earlier in the day but was unsure if prices had further spiked by evening.
Residents continue to voice their discontent as the fuel crisis worsens.
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