Transport Fares Stay Put in Five States and FCT as October 1 Relief Target Passes

Commuters in Kaduna, Oyo, Enugu, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory are still paying the same transport fares after the October 1 target for cheaper journeys passed without relief on surveyed routes. Passengers interviewed on October 2 said nothing had changed, while operators blamed expensive fuel and the absence of interventions that would cut their running costs.

President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress governors agreed in August to pursue lower transport costs, targeting October 1, 2026, for Nigerians to begin benefiting. The plan hinged on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles to reduce intra-state transport costs, backed by a joint federal-state implementation committee. The savings have not reached many passengers yet.

Enugu fares hold steady

At Enugu's Gariki terminal, journeys to Umuahia still cost ₦6,500 by car and ₦5,000 by bus. Travellers heading to Owerri paid between ₦7,000 and ₦7,500 in Sienna vehicles, while buses charged ₦6,000. Enugu to Onitsha remained ₦6,000 by car and ₦4,500 by bus.

On longer routes, GIGM's Toyota Hiace service from Enugu to Abuja cost ₦44,020 for online bookings and ₦45,000 offline. The Lagos service stayed at ₦42,500, matching September rates. Within Enugu, commercial buses kept their fares and tricycle operators continued charging ₦300 for short trips.

Transport operator Caleb Obi said government support had not arrived. "We are still buying fuel at N1,400 per litre," he said, arguing that fares cannot fall without lower operating costs or working transport alternatives.

Kaduna CNG buses versus commercial fares

In Kaduna, commuter Monday Ade said the Sabo to Kasuwa fare remained ₦700, while the trip from Samrada Filling Station in Ungwar Romi to Kasuwa still cost ₦500. Commercial driver Mallam Nasir Abu questioned how operators could charge less while buying petrol for between ₦1,450 and ₦1,500 per litre.

The state government said residents are already benefiting from free public transport. Kaduna Line managing director Inuwa Ibrahim said about 60 CNG-powered buses run daily on designated routes within Kaduna metropolis. That relief sits alongside unchanged fares on commercial services.

In Oyo, the Secretariat to University of Ibadan journey remained ₦500 by commercial motorcycle and ₦300 by tricycle. Apata to Mokola stood at ₦500, while Bashorun to New Bodija remained ₦400. Union leader Olalere Adetunji said there had been no decrease across the state within the previous 24 hours.

Abuja and Lagos

Around Abuja, Bwari passengers said fares to Berger and Wuse Market remained ₦1,800 after rising from ₦1,300 in late September. From Mararaba, trips to the Federal Secretariat reached ₦2,000 during rush hours. Resident Elizabeth Tyesi said she had seen no noticeable reduction on her route.

In Lagos, federal mass buses still charged ₦500 between Mile 2 and Oshodi against ₦700 to ₦800 on yellow buses. Oshodi to Mile 12 remained ₦400 on federal mass buses and ₦800 to ₦1,000 on yellow buses. Train fares were also unchanged.

For now, the promised savings remain an expectation. Cheaper transport for Nigerian workers, students and traders depends on real cuts to operators' fuel and running costs.