Transport fares soar as petrol sells for ₦1,200 in Anambra

New sMarch 8, 2026 10:11 pm

The price of petrol rose to as high as ₦1,200 per litre in parts of Anambra State over the weekend, triggering a sharp increase in transportation fares for both intra- and inter-state travel. Findings by our correspondent across major cities including Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and parts of Awka between Saturday and Sunday showed that while most filling stations were not dispensing the product, the few selling recorded long queues, with prices ranging between ₦1,100 and ₦er litre. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited mega and mini retail outlets in Awka and other major marketers were largely closed to customers on Sunday, while some that opened did not dispense petrol. Two petrol stations — Altrac Filling Station and Hanaco, located along the Onitsha–Awka Expressway — displayed pump prices of ₦1,150 per litre on Sunday, attracting a small number of buyers. Motorists and commuters expressed concern over the persistent rise in petrol prices, lamenting the impact on transportation and daily living. PUNCH Online gathered that fares for intra-city trips increased by over 50 per cent, with transporters charging ₦300 for routes that previously cost ₦200, while fares that were ₦500 rose to about ₦700. At the Upper Iweka Motor Park in Onitsha, transporters charged about ₦2,000 for trips from Onitsha to Awka, up from between ₦1,000 and ₦1,500 previously. Commuters travelling to neighbouring states also experienced similar increases. At the Ekwulobia Motor Park, fares from Igboukwu to Nkpor and Onitsha rose to ₦4,000 from ₦2,000, leaving many commuters stranded. The situation also affected the cost of goods and services across markets visited, with traders and service providers attributing the increase to rising fuel and transportation costs. Commuters heading to and returning from churches and other events were seen arguing with commercial drivers over the fare hikes, while some resorted to trekking to their destinations. Transport operators attributed the increase in fares to the rising price of petrol, noting that the situation had worsened in recent days. A commercial driver at Solution Park in Awka, Chukwudi Ezeh, said, “The increase in fares is expected as a result of the frequent increase in the pump price of petrol. “The increase started early last week when it was sold for ₦960 from ₦860, and it continued until it got to about ₦1,200 over the weekend. “The increase in transportation is not our fault. We maintained the same fares even as petrol prices kept rising daily until we could no longer bear the burden alone.