By Anlta Babalola
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) has issued a fresh warning that commercial drivers across the country may embark on a nationwide protest over spiraling fuel costs, increased customs duties, soaring vehicle maintenance expenses, and a sharp decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.
In a statement, JDWAN said the pressure on drivers has intensified beyond earlier disputes over multiple levies and tolling points, which the association said had already placed many commercial operators at the edge of survival.
The group warned that operating routes has become increasingly impossible as the cost of petrol and daily compliance charges continue to rise faster than income—forcing many drivers to borrow, abandon maintenance schedules, or effectively surrender their vehicles to breakdowns.
JDWAN President Akintade S. Abiodun and Publicity Secretary Feyisayo Ajimatanrareje said commercial drivers now reportedly spend between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 daily on petrol, depending on route and vehicle type, leaving little or nothing to set aside for repairs and basic family needs.
Worsening Conditions Since 2022 Tolling Protest
JDWAN noted that the current crisis has “deteriorated significantly” since its earlier 2022 statewide protest against what it described as the proliferation of multiple tolling units imposed by officials connected to RTEAN and NURTW, commonly referred to in the transport sector as “agberos”, as well as “garages and parks management” in some states.
The association argued that while the agbero problem was already severe, conditions have now worsened in ways that go far beyond tolling—particularly due to fuel price shocks, currency depreciation, and the rising cost of imported vehicle parts.
Petrol Price Shock Hits Drivers Hard
Central to JDWAN’s concerns is the sharp increase in petrol prices. The association claimed petrol was about ₦180 per litre around 2023, but has surged to around ₦1,500 per litre, which it described as a 734% increase.
JDWAN said wages have not moved in line with these increases, describing the removal of fuel subsidy as a major factor behind worsening hardship for informal workers, low- and middle-income earners, and small businesses.
Companies Exit, Costs Rise Further
JDWAN also linked Nigeria’s difficult operating environment to the exit, restructuring, or downsizing of multinational companies. Among those listed by the association were GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, Shoprite, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Microsoft, TotalEnergies, PZ Cussons, Kimberly-Clark, Diageo, Sanofi-Aventis, Equinor, as well as Bolt Food and Jumia Food, citing changes in operations or business models.
According to JDWAN, fewer stable employers and weaker economic activity have further reduced drivers’ earning capacity while increasing competition for daily income.
Customs Duties and Naira Depreciation Deepen Maintenance Crisis
JDWAN blamed higher customs duties and naira depreciation for making vehicle repairs and replacement parts unaffordable.
The association cited examples including:
- Serpentine belt: previously around ₦2,000, now reportedly around ₦15,000
- Tyres: previously around ₦7,000, now reportedly above ₦50,000
- Engine: previously around ₦250,000, now reportedly above ₦1 million
- Vehicle valuation: previously around ₦1.5 million, now reportedly around ₦8 million
JDWAN argued that many drivers can no longer afford regular maintenance once fuel and daily charges are paid. It claimed that when vehicles fail, drivers often must seek loans or park their buses for extended periods—sometimes becoming dependent on charity or begging.
Drivers Lose Up to 80% of Earnings
Beyond fuel costs, JDWAN said drivers also lose a substantial portion of daily earnings to levies, including charges linked to motor parks and along routes.
The association alleged that in some cases, drivers could lose up to 80% of income to a combination of fuel spending and what it described as government-backed “agbero” collections—leaving little for food, healthcare, and other household essentials.
Warning: Hardship May Fuel Unemployment, Hunger, and Insecurity
JDWAN said the mounting hardship across Nigeria could worsen unemployment, hunger, and insecurity, arguing that when even large manufacturers exit because of fuel costs and “anti-poor” policies such as higher customs duties, working people and small businesses bear the consequences first.
The association asked: if major firms cannot operate profitably, how will drivers and small businesses survive—especially as purchasing power continues to shrink?
JDWAN also criticised Nigeria’s broader economic setup, saying citizens pay heavily for fuel without seeing adequate relief through wages, infrastructure, or public services.
JDWAN’s Three Demands From the Federal Government
JDWAN listed the following demands:
- Reverse the removal of fuel subsidy and reduce petrol prices to what it called the ₦180 per litre rate in 2023.
- Reverse the increase in customs duties back to 2023 rates.
- Increase workers’ salaries.
Minimum Wage Criticised as Insufficient
JDWAN also criticised the current minimum wage level, arguing that ₦70,000 is inadequate to feed a person for a month, let alone a family—adding that workers earning less than $50 monthly cannot sustain decent living standards.
JDWAN said it is urging commercial drivers nationwide to join its campaign for improved economic conditions. The association added that it would await responses from state and federal governments before determining whether to proceed with a nationwide protest.
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