Abuja’s chaotic transport system drains residents

The chaotic and poorly coordinated transport system in Abuja is imposing a growing burden on residents, with many now spending up to half of their income on daily commuting amid rising fuel costs and limited public transport options. Despite its status as Nigeria’s capital and one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, Abuja lacks a structured and […]

The chaotic and poorly coordinated transport system in Abuja is imposing a growing burden on residents, with many now spending up to half of their income on daily commuting amid rising fuel costs and limited public transport options.

Despite its status as Nigeria’s capital and one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, Abuja lacks a structured and reliable mass transit system, leaving many residents dependent on an informal network of minibuses, taxis, tricycles and expensive ride-hailing services.

With an estimated population of 4.3 million, the city’s rapid expansion has outpaced its transport infrastructure, worsening congestion and increasing the cost of mobility for workers and businesses.

For many low-income earners in Abuja, commuting has become both physically draining and financially crippling.

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Public buses are scarce and unevenly distributed. In high-density areas like Nyanya and Kubwa, commuters often scramble for a handful of ageing and rickety buses, many of which are privately operated and poorly regulated.

In more highbrow districts such as Maitama and Asokoro, formal public transport is almost non-existent, leaving workers with little choice but to depend on taxis or ride-hailing services such as Bolt, Uber and InDrive, which are usually very expensive.

During the administration of former Minister Nasir El-Rufai, the FCT had an efficient public transport system operating under the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO).

At the moment, the AUMTCO’s high-capacity buses have disappeared, leading to the collapse of the public transport system with the attendant chaotic commuting experience for residents.

A civil servant, John Ameh, recalled that AUTMCO, during the administration of El-Rufai, had over 400 high-capacity buses for designated routes in the FCT, including Abuja-Mararaba, Abuja-Bwari, Abuja-Kuje, Abuja-Gwagwalada and Abuja-Suleja respectively.

“But a few years into their operations, the once efficient public transport system began showing signs of distress and decline, with a good number of the mass transit buses disappearing from the roads, one after the other due to poor maintenance culture and poor management,” he said.

 

Workers spend 50% of salaries on transport

Workers in Abuja said they now spend up to half of their monthly salaries on transportation, as rising fuel costs and the weak public transport system push commuting beyond their reach.

Across major routes in the FCT, commuters said rising fares and long travel times have forced them into alternatives ranging from ride-hailing services to informal carpooling.

Fatima Umar, a civil servant who lives at Wuse and works at the Federal Secretariat, said she had turned her private car into a mini transport service for survival.

“I buy N30,000 fuel every week. I carry three people at the back and one in front and collect N500 from each. I make about N4,000 daily and N20,000 weekly, but it goes straight into fuel,” she said.

She noted that her monthly income is less than N200,000.

For others, ride hailing services have become the only viable option despite the cost.

Jachi Ben, a resident of Jahi, who commutes along the Asokoro route, said public transport is not practical for her daily movement.

“I use Bolt like two or three times a week,” she said, noting that she had been stranded before when she could not immediately afford a ride.

For many workers living on the outskirts, the burden is heavier. Ibrahim Olaoluwa, a business owner who lives at Kubwa, said he spends about N1,500 to reach Wuse. “I take bike N300 then cab N1,200,” he said.

Gideon Are, a civil servant living in Gwagwa, said he spends about N2,200 daily on transport.

He added that his monthly earnings of about N200,000 are no longer sufficient. “The fare keeps increasing, but the salary is not increasing,” he said.

Vehicle operators said they are also under pressure, with rising fuel costs and declining passenger numbers.

Obetta Izuchukwu, a taxi driver, said demand had dropped significantly.

“Before, we could do four or five trips in a day, but now you barely get two or three,” he said.

Another bus driver, Chukwurah Benjamin, said fuel costs have tripled. “Before, N10,000 fuel could run three trips, but now you need close to N30,000,” he said, adding that drivers are struggling to stay afloat.

Another driver, Amakor Kelechi, said operators have resorted to carrying more passengers than usual.

“We now carry six passengers instead of five because of the economy,” he said, adding, “I spend about N35,000 on fuel daily.”

 

FG’s promise of 3,000 CNG roll-outs falters

Following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023, the Federal Government promised to cushion the impact with the roll-out of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered mass transit buses.

On July 23, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate.

While a handful of the buses have been deployed, their presence remains limited in Abuja. Some of them operate along major corridors like Nyanya–City Centre and Kubwa–Wuse, leaving vast areas under-served.

Commuters said the buses are hard to come by.

William Kura, AUMTCO’s assistant general coordinator, said the number of buses is limited due to funding challenges.

“We have enough buses, but many are parked because there is no money to fix them,” he said.

He added that only a few buses operate daily on major routes.

“We run about three or four buses on some routes,” he said.

He explained that fares had to be increased from N400 to N700 due to the rising cost of diesel.

“We are using diesel, which is expensive, and that is why we adjusted the price,” he said.

He noted that some routes have been suspended entirely due to operational challenges.

Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has assured that the completed bus terminals built across the territory will begin operations soon, following approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Daily Trust reports that the bus terminals in Kugbo and Mabushi, though completed months ago, have yet to begin operations.

He explained that the bus terminals, though completed and inaugurated in 2025, could not begin operations because their management was above ministerial approval.

Earlier this month, a windstorm damaged parts of the newly constructed Kugbo Bus Terminal in the Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

 

Expert blames planning failure

A professor of Transport Geography, Samuel Odewumi, identified rapid urbanisation, weak public transport infrastructure, and poor city planning as the major drivers of the chaotic transport system in Abuja, warning that without urgent reforms, the situation could worsen.

Odewumi said the capital city’s transport challenges are largely a product of structural and planning failures that have failed to keep pace with population growth.

According to him, Abuja’s original design capacity has been overstretched by the influx of residents and daily commuters from satellite towns such as Nyanya, Kubwa and Maraba.

He noted that this imbalance leads to intense congestion during peak periods, worsened by the pattern of movement.

The professor identified the absence of a robust mass transit system as a major contributor to the crisis, stressing that reliance on small vehicles is unsustainable.

He explained that the dependence on taxis, minibuses and other small vehicles cannot meet the growing demand.

Odewumi also faulted the city’s land-use structure, particularly the separation of residential areas from workplaces, describing it as a major flaw.

The don suggested the development of high-density residential buildings within business districts to reduce commuting pressure.

 

Lessons from other African cities

In contrast to the chaotic transport system in Abuja, cities like Johannesburg and Cairo offer structured public transport systems that Abuja could learn from.

Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system provides dedicated lanes, fixed schedules, and affordable fares, ensuring reliability and efficiency. It integrates with other transport modes, including trains and minibus taxis.

Cairo, on the other hand, boasts a robust metro rail system that moves millions daily at low cost. The Cairo Metro operates on fixed routes with high frequency, drastically reducing travel time and congestion.