Tensions flared in Benin City on Monday as commercial drivers took to the streets in protest against the persistent rise in petrol prices, blocking key sections of Upper Sakponba Road and leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The demonstration, which disrupted movement across one of the city’s busiest corridors, reflects the growing strain high fuel costs are placing on transport operators and ordinary Nigerians alike.
The drivers mounted roadblocks at strategic points, including Aifuwa Street and Pioneer Junction, forcing passengers to disembark and continue their journeys on foot. Many commuters, caught off guard, were seen trekking long distances in a bid to navigate the disruption and find alternative transport.
Leading the protest, several drivers insisted that the sharp increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has made their operations unsustainable. One of the protesters, identified simply as John, explained that petrol prices had jumped from about ₦870 to ₦1,350 per litre within a short period, while transport fares remained largely unchanged.
“We were buying fuel for ₦870 and charging ₦500 per trip, but now fuel is ₦1,350 and passengers still expect to pay the same fare. How do we survive?” he said. “You spend up to ₦25,000 on fuel daily and still have to settle the vehicle owner.
There is nothing left to take home.”
The drivers also urged their colleagues across the city to immediately adjust fares to reflect current realities, warning that passengers unwilling to pay the new rates could be dropped midway. The stance has further heightened tensions between operators and commuters already grappling with rising living costs.
For passengers, the experience has been both frustrating and costly. A commuter travelling from Ring Road recounted how the protest disrupted her journey, forcing her to alight and walk past the blockade before securing another bus. “They blocked the road and asked everyone to come down. I had no choice but to carry my load and walk across before finding another vehicle,” she said.
The ripple effect of the fuel price hike is already evident in transport fares across Benin City. Trips that previously cost between ₦500 and ₦700 such as Idogbo to Ring Road or Ikpoba Hill to Ring Road now range from ₦800 to ₦1,000, further squeezing household budgets.
The protest underscores a deeper crisis in Nigeria’s downstream sector, where rising fuel costs continue to trigger a chain reaction across the economy. As petrol prices climb, transport operators are left with little choice but to pass on the burden, while commuters bear the brunt of the adjustment.
With no immediate relief in sight, the situation is likely to persist, raising concerns about wider social and economic disruptions if fuel prices continue on their current trajectory.