On Wednesday, a few small-business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) lamented the low customer traffic to their shops, claiming the situation worsened as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), President Bola Tinubu stated in his inaugural address on May 29 that the Federal Government has eliminated the fuel subsidy.
The withdrawal reportedly caused a rise in pricing for goods and services across the board across the nation, according to NAN.
Mr. Abdul Mohammed, a vulcanizer at Area 10, Garki, claimed that since the fuel subsidy was eliminated, business at his establishment has suffered.
Mohammed said that many of his clients have left their automobiles parked since the high price of gasoline makes it unaffordable for them to fill up their vehicles.
“The hike in fuel prices made me increase the cost of my service. This led to many of my customers to stop patronizing me because they said they had parked their cars as they cannot afford to buy fuel due to the high prices.
“And in my type of business, profit depends on the level of patronage I get from my customers.”
Mohammed claimed that other people’s prices had also gone up. Price increases were made by suppliers of products and services like food, transportation, and replacement parts.
“For instance, before I used to pay N700 for a bus ride from Kaduna Road in Suleja to Area 10 but now I pay as high as N1,500 to go to the place.
“I believe if the government is serious about the removal of fuel subsidy, it should judiciously utilize the profits realized from it to provide essential amenities such as hospitals, good roads, and good transportation system for the masses.
“These will assist to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on the people,’’ he said.
Hairdresser Christiana Musa in Zone 4 claimed that since the government eliminated the fuel subsidy, she had to raise the cost of her services as well.
She claimed that as a result of this growth, she has seen a decline in the number of people who previously could not afford her services patronizing her establishment.
“Before I used to buy relaxer, gel, hair cream, hair attachment and petrol among others at cheaper prices but now all these materials I use for my work have had their prices increased and I have to increase the price of my services in order to still be in business.
“Washing and drying of hair which used to cost N500 is now N800 as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“Government should do something to reduce the price of goods and services in the market so that the suffering of the people can be reduced,” she said.
Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, a grain grinder at the Garki Market, claimed that while he used to charge N200 for a bag of grains, he now needs to charge at least N400 to break even.
He continued by saying that many of his clients were having financial difficulties as a result of the loss of the gasoline subsidy and could not pay the N400 increased costs.
Ahmed claimed that he could not charge less than N400 since doing so would result in him making a loss after paying for his gasoline and machine maintenance.
“In view of all these factors, the number of customers who patronize my business has dropped as they can no longer afford to pay for my services. Also, I can’t meet up; so I packed up, until the fuel price reduces.
