Cost of living crisis: Civil servants turn private vehicles to commercial use

The rising fuel price in Nigeria has forced many civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to adopt unconventional survival strategies, including turning their private vehicles into commercial transport to cushion the harsh economic reality being faced by many in the country. In a bid to address the impact of the rising cost of […]

The rising fuel price in Nigeria has forced many civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to adopt unconventional survival strategies, including turning their private vehicles into commercial transport to cushion the harsh economic reality being faced by many in the country.

In a bid to address the impact of the rising cost of fuel, many civil servants and private car owners have turned their vehicles to commercial use to make ends meet, with many now venturing into Uber and Bolt services at their free time and weekends.

Some of them who spoke with Weekend Trust noted that turning their private vehicles into commercial use was not for profit making but purely for survival. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  recently demanded a cost-of-living allowance, a wage award for workers and tax relief to cushion the effects of the recent increase in the price of fuel occasioned by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

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The NLC, in a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, said the petrol price hike had worsened the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and citizens.

It said the federal government cannot foreclose any action that would offer relief to the people.

According to the NLC, it is the duty of the state to act decisively to prevent the suffering of its citizens, “rather than helplessly attributing the crisis solely to the Middle East conflict.”

The NLC’s demands came two days after the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO) sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention of import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment.

The NLC accused the government of leaving Nigerians at the mercy of volatile global oil prices triggered by the escalating Middle East crisis, alleging that the situation had exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and deepened the suffering of workers and their families.”

 The NLC noted that Nigerian workers are being pauperized and subjected to immense suffering and that workers are not statistics but are the engine of the nation. “When the engine overheats, the entire vehicle crashes. The estimated N30 trillion oil

“The government must engage in sincere social dialogue with Nigerian workers and the broader citizenry. Using the Middle East crisis as a justification for policies that deepen poverty is unacceptable. The primary duty of the government is to ensure the welfare and security of its citizens. We demand action. We demand justice. We demand justice. We demand survival.” The statement said.

Across major routes connecting satellite towns like Mararaba, Lugbe and Nyanya to the Central Business District, it has become common to see private motorists pick passengers for a fee during their daily commute from home to work in the mornings and repeat the same at the close of work. For many civil servants, the arrangement is not a business venture but a desperate attempt to offset the soaring cost of fuel, which now sells at over N1,200 per litre in some fuel stations across the country, including the country’s capital city.

Usman Danladi, a civil servant residing at Mararaba, said the high cost of petrol made it almost impossible for many workers to go to work without sharing the burden with passengers.

“The present cost of fuel has forced almost every vehicle owner to become a taxi driver. How can someone buy fuel at N1,330 per litre with the kind of salary we earn and the taxes we pay? I pick four or five passengers on my way to the office and while returning home, just to reduce the impact of the fuel cost,” he said.

Danladi expressed frustration that despite Nigeria being a crude oil–producing country, citizens continue to struggle with high fuel prices.

“We have refineries and crude oil in this country, yet ordinary citizens are facing these challenges. The government really needs to do something about this situation,” he added.

Beyond the economic pressure, Danladi noted that private motorists who pick passengers risk harassment from transport union enforcers, popularly known as agbero.

“If they catch you carrying or dropping passengers, that becomes another problem. Because of the N2,000 you are trying to make to reduce your fuel cost, they may ask you to pay as much as N35,000 before releasing you. That is very unfair,” he lamented, calling on the government to intervene.

Another civil servant, Akeem Oladele, who lives in Lugbe, said the financial benefits from carrying passengers were minimal but still necessary given the current economic situation in the country.

“In terms of financial returns, it is not something huge. But the fuel hike is almost double what it used to be, so picking passengers is just a way to manage the cost,” he explained.

Interaction with several private motorists revealed that most of them do not consider the practice a commercial venture but a form of cost-sharing and making ends meet. According to them, the money collected from passengers only helps to subsidise their fueling expenses.

Some motorists also noted that the arrangement becomes more organised during rush hours, especially in the evening when many commuters struggle to find available buses or taxis due to inadequate public transportation.

At such periods, informal transport coordinators, commonly referred to as touts or agbero, help organise passengers into waiting vehicles. In return, the coordinators are often given a small token by the motorists for facilitating the process.

A public affairs analyst, Mustapha Kabir, said the growing trend reflected the worsening economic situation faced by civil servants in the country.

“Looking at the current economic realities, civil servants are finding it increasingly difficult to survive on their salaries alone. The value of their income has declined significantly compared to what it used to be. And many workers with families are struggling to meet basic needs,” he said.

Kabir noted that what used to be a simple commute has now turned into a survival strategy.

“Years ago, commuting from places like Lugbe into the city was relatively affordable. Today, the situation is completely different. When someone has a private car, it becomes almost impossible to drive alone, knowing the cost of fuel. Picking passengers becomes a way to support your wallet and still keep the car running.”

He added that while some motorists worry about vehicle maintenance due to increased usage, many consider it a necessary sacrifice to cope with rising living costs.

“For most civil servants, it is not about profit but survival. When you have a family to take care of, you must find ways to put food on the table,” Kabir said.

As fuel prices continue to climb and public transportation remains inadequate, the practice of private motorists doubling as commercial drivers is gradually becoming a common feature of Abuja’s daily commute, highlighting the growing pressure on workers trying to navigate Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.

 

Security expert warns of risks 

Security and intelligence expert Kabiru Adamu has warned that the growing practice of civil servants using their personal vehicles for commercial rides in Abuja could expose them to serious security threats, including kidnapping, theft, and surveillance.

Adamu, the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, said while the practice may provide economic relief for workers facing rising living costs challenges, it also creates vulnerabilities that government agencies must urgently address.

“The way government agencies can ensure that civil servants do not expose themselves to unnecessary risk when they offer co-arrivals to people they don’t know and take passengers is to start by raising their awareness to the risks associated with such activities,” he said in an interview.

According to him, many public servants may not fully understand the security implications of picking up unknown passengers, especially in a city like Abuja where government workers often handle sensitive information.

“Do they just pick people along the road? Do they go to parks? Are they registered agents they work with? Do they join ride-hailing applications?” Adamu rhetorically asked. “All of these are ways to understand the vulnerabilities and then reduce exposure to them.”

He also stressed the need for government ministries and agencies to properly document any incidents involving staff members who become victims of crimes while offering rides.

“For instance, if it’s the Ministry of Petroleum and their staff become victims, such incidents should be reported to the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Police Affairs,” he said. “When such cases are documented, a pattern or trend may emerge and that trend can help authorities put mitigation measures in place.”

Adamu further noted that effective deterrence would depend on the criminal justice system taking firm action against offenders.

“The perpetrators must be arrested and penalised. The criminal justice system must act and punish offenders. That way it becomes a deterrent to would-be criminals,” he said.

On whether the government is considering regulations to address the issue, Adamu said he was unaware of any concrete policy discussions so far.

“I’m not aware that the government at the moment is even considering this, so I must commend the advocacy that media houses are doing,” he said, adding that increased public discussion could push authorities to introduce policy measures.

He suggested that potential safeguards could include limiting roadside passenger pickups, allowing only registered vehicles for commercial operations, and introducing laws empowering agencies to enforce transportation rules.

“Ultimately, the best approach is awareness,” Adamu added. “Civil servants must understand their vulnerabilities and receive training on road-related security risks during their career development programmes.”