Connect with us

Business

Inflation Pushing Truckers Out Of Business, Group Laments

Published

on

As the inflation rate bites harder, truckers have said that about half of their members are leaving the job for other businesses.

In an exclusive chat with The PUNCH in Lagos on Wednesday, former Dry Cargo Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, Abdullahi Inuwa, said that the sector was riddled with a lot of challenges.

Advertisement

Inuwa fingered drop in cargoes, high cost of truck maintenance and diesel as reasons for the dwindling fortunes of the sector.

“From my own side, the work is not friendly because of drop in activities. This is coupled with the high cost of maintaining trucks, diesel and other activities. Some people who have, for instance, 10 trucks may be managing to maintain five now to have money for other businesses. I have to park 0my trucks for now. I am currently not doing port operations now. So, about 50 per cent truckers have parked their trucks pending when things will improve. Some are looking for other ways of survival. I started seeing this development in November 2021. You are aware that earlier this year, there was scarcity of empty containers in Europe, coupled with lack of access to forex.”

He also accused the Federal Government of focusing more on generating revenue than encouraging trade.

Advertisement

“Our government’s approach to tariffs, especially the Customs, is not encouraging. They don’t think of encouraging the industry because they are always increasing tariffs and targeting gaining more revenue.”

Inuwa said that the situation is worse for truckers who were not resident in Lagos because they had to pay for parking for the number of days they would stay, with little or no cargo to go back with.

READ ALSO: Inflation Hits 16.82%, Exceeds IMF’s 2022 Projection

Advertisement

Corroborating Inuwa’s submission, the Head of Operation, NARTO, Mr Stephen Okafor, said that truckers were not breaking even, noting that other sectors had increased their rates except the trucking sector.

According to him, “I know a whole lot of people have actually left the business. People are actually going out of business and if it continues like that, a whole lot of people will still leave.”

Also speaking, the President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations, Mr Adeyinka Arowoyewun, said, “The level of importation has drastically reduced due to so many factors which have to do with the exchange rate, war in Ukraine and Russia, and the policies of government vis a vis increase in tariff. I agree that importation has reduced and a lot of truckers have actually abandoned that business.”

Advertisement

 

Advertisement

Business

NNPCL Increases Fuel Price

Published

on

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has increased the pump price of premium motor spirit across its retail outlets.

It was gathered that NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja have adjusted their fuel pump price to N955 per litre from N890.

Advertisement

This is the case in NNPCL retail outlets along Kubwa Expressway, Wuse and other parts of Abuja.

READ ALSO:Fuel Station Manager, Three Others Arrested For Robbery

Similarly, the pump price hike has been implemented at filling stations in Kogi and Nasarawa.

Advertisement

This means that the petrol pump price was increased by N65.

This comes after independent petroleum product marketers and filling station owners in Abuja increased petrol pump prices to between N950 and N971 per litre at the weekend. Their decision followed an upward review of the ex-depot petrol price by Dangote Refinery to N858 per litre, up from N820.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

Naira Appreciates Against Dollar As External Reserves Swell

Published

on

The naira appreciated against the dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Monday to begin the week on a bullish note amid swelling external reserves.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange data, the naira appreciated to N1,531.95 against the dollar on Monday from N1,533.74 traded last week Friday.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Naira Continues To Appreciate Against Dollar On Official Market

This showed that the Naira strengthened by N1.79 when compared to the N1,533.74 exchanged at the close of work last week.

Meanwhile, at the black market, the naira remained stable at N1560 per litre, the same exchange rate traded on Friday.

Advertisement

The development comes as Nigeria’s external reserves had maintained a modest rise to $39.54 billion as of August 1st, 2025, up from $39.36 billion on July 30th.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Business

Naira Continues To Appreciate Against Dollar On Official Market

Published

on

The naira continued its appreciation against the dollar at the foreign exchange market on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the naira strengthened further to N1,533.18 against the dollar on Tuesday, from N1,534.21 traded the previous day.

Advertisement

This represents a gain of N1.03 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis and marks the second consecutive day of appreciation at the official FX market.

READ ALSO:Woman Arrested For Killing, Selling Pregnant Nurse’s Body Parts

Meanwhile, on the black market, the naira depreciated further to N1,545 per dollar on Tuesday from N1,537 traded on Monday.

Advertisement

Recall that the naira had similarly closed Monday’s trading session with mixed sentiments, recording gains at the official market but depreciating at the parallel market.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending