By Kelvin Ololo
Commuters in Calabar have raised concerns over rising transport fares following a sudden increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) better known as petrol, accusing some commercial drivers of exploiting the situation to impose arbitrary charges.
The price adjustment began on Monday, March 9, 2026, when petrol, previously sold at about ₦850 per liter, began climbing sharply. By Tuesday morning, March 10, several filling stations were dispensing the product at about ₦1,300 per liter, while black-market vendors were selling as high as ₦1,500.
The situation has been compounded by the closure of some filling stations that have halted sales, forcing many commercial drivers to depend on black-market supplies to keep their business running.
Many commuters who spoke to CrossRiverWatch lamented that the development has placed an additional financial burden on residents already grappling with the high cost of living.
“I paid ₦700 from 8 Miles to Watt Market instead of the usual ₦500. Some drivers are clearly overcharging passengers. It’s not fair,” a commuter said.
Another road user noted that fares for short distances have also increased.
“Drivers now collect between ₦150 and ₦200 for routes that used to cost ₦100,” the passenger said.
Some residents also expressed frustration over what they described as a recurring pattern of permanent price increases in the city.
“That’s how it is in Calabar. Once prices go up, they rarely come down again. What does the Iran war have to do with us here?” a resident, Mr. Edet, queried.
A commercial driver who spoke with this reporter defended the fare increase, explaining that the cost of purchasing fuel had risen significantly.
According to him, many filling stations with available fuel are withholding sales while waiting for further price increases, leaving drivers with little choice but to buy from black-market sources.
A visit by CrossRiverWatch to one of the fuel stations along Murtala Mohammed Highway, confirmed that the station has been selling petrol at ₦1,300 per liter since Monday.
Observers warn that the situation could trigger a ripple effect across the local economy, pushing up the prices of goods and services in markets as transportation costs rise. There are also fears that the emerging scarcity may worsen in the coming days.
While some residents attribute the sudden spike to tensions in the Middle East affecting global oil supply, others blame Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported petroleum products and the failure to fully utilise domestic refineries.
For many commuters in Calabar, however, the immediate concern is the daily struggle to afford transportation in a city where mobility is rapidly becoming more expensive.
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