The recent increase in petroleum pump prices has forced many residents of Borno State, including civil servants, to abandon their vehicles and opt for alternative modes of transportation such as trekking, horse riding, and cycling.
A tour of Maiduguri, the state capital, on Thursday revealed a significant reduction in the number of vehicles on the road, with more pedestrians, horse riders, and cyclists taking over major roads. One of the pedestrians, Dadoon Pam, a graphic designer, lamented the impact of the fuel price hike on his business. “This price 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.”
Jeremiah Blessing, an enumerator with a Non-governmental Organization, has adjusted to the new reality by breaking her morning movement into two parts – trekking halfway before boarding a tricycle. “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,” she said.
A retired customs officer, Tuja Mai Abba, has abandoned his vehicle for commercial tricycles, citing cost savings
