With Christmas around the corner, Nigerians planning holiday travel are grappling with soaring transport costs.
Many have abandoned plans to visit their families, citing the high bus fares and urging the Federal Government to step in.
At key terminals in Lagos, such as Oshodi, Jibowu, and Maza Maza, passengers expressed their frustrations. Ticket prices to the East have skyrocketed, with luxury buses now charging up to ₦40,000, while minibuses demand as much as ₦65,000. For families, these costs are simply out of reach.
“I was hoping the government would bring back the 50% fare discount we had last year,” lamented Chinedu Uzoechina, a father of five.
“For my family of seven, a one-way trip would cost ₦280,000, and a round trip ₦560,000. How can I afford that? We’ve had to cancel our plans.”
While rail passengers enjoy free train rides this season, bus travellers feel overlooked. Many gathered at terminals expecting similar subsidies, only to leave disappointed.
Damian Ezuma, the manager of Izu Chukwu Transport, cited operational difficulties as the reason for the fare increases.
“The expenses involved in maintaining buses are staggering,” he said. “In some areas, diesel costs as much as ₦2,000 per litre. It’s beyond our control.”
