No Light, Expensive Fuel: How Alimosho Residents Are Spending N5,000 – N15,000 Daily To Survive – Traders Lament

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Residents and small business owners in Alimosho, the largest local government area in Lagos State, have decried the double burden of unstable electricity supply and rising petrol prices, saying they now spend between N5,000 and N15,000 daily to power their homes and businesses.

The lamentation comes as petrol marketers across Lagos and Abuja increased pump price by up to N1,400 per litre over the weekend, despite a Federal Government discount initiative.

Checks on Sunday and Monday show that in Abuja, stations like AA Rano and AYM Shafa raised price to N1,409 per litre from N1,380, while an NNPC Retail outlet in Jikwoyi sold at N1,405 per litre. MRS, a partner outlet of Dangote Refinery, also increased to N1,405 from N1,370.

In Lagos, the situation is slightly better but still painful for residents. Findings show that some stations in Ikorodu, Coker, Orile and Second Rainbow sell between N1,350 and N1,360 per litre, while independent marketers in Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun and Ayobo axis of Alimosho sell between N1,360 and N1,400 per litre depending on location.

The hike comes despite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, extending its N66 per litre discount until October 31, 2026. The discount, which started on October 1 to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, reduces NNPCL retail price to N1,339 per litre for customers who pay digitally through its mobile application.

The Federal Government said the initiative is funded by NNPCL forgoing its profit margin and not through public funds or a return of subsidy.

However, residents of Alimosho say the relief is not reaching them.

Speaking with our correspondent in Egbeda, Mrs. Funke Adebayo, a frozen food seller, said she now spends up to N15,000 every day on petrol to keep her goods from spoiling.

“There is no light for three days in our street at Egbeda. If I don’t turn on generator for 8 hours, all my fish will spoil. I use at least 10 litres daily. At N1,380 per litre, that is about N13,800. How much profit will I make? Government should help us,” she lamented.

At Iyana Ipaja, a barbing salon owner, Mr. Kingsley Okoro, who uses a smaller generator, said his own burden is about N5,000 daily.

“My generator uses 3 to 4 litres for my barbing shop. That is N5,000 every day. If there is light, I will spend less than N1,000 for NEPA. Now all my profit goes to fuel,” he said.

Mr. Okoro added that the situation is similar to what residents of Lekki Phase 1 are currently experiencing, where residents have spent almost two weeks without electricity after a transformer fault.

In Lekki, residents told PMExpress that they have lost food items and now spend heavily on petrol to power generators, accusing Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, of poor communication.

Alimosho residents say they face same fate daily.

“Petrol is expensive, yet there is no light. We are buying fuel like water. You charge phone with generator, you cook with gas that is also expensive,” said Mr. Segun, a resident of Ikotun.

The situation has been worsened by the indefinite strike declared by Lagos e-hailing drivers from Monday.

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, AUATON, said its members will stop work until issues of fares, commissions and welfare are addressed. The union also asked fleet owners to suspend daily remittance during the strike.

For commuters in Alimosho who depend on Bolt and Uber to get to work in Ikeja, Yaba and Victoria Island, the strike means higher transport fares as yellow buses and Keke operators are expected to hike prices.

Economic experts have also weighed in. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, on Sunday called for a six-month programme to reduce petrol price by 15 to 20 per cent to ease pressure on businesses and households.

LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said while the proposed price stabilisation mechanism by government is welcome, preventing further increase is not enough. She said high petrol price continues to increase transport costs and weaken purchasing power.

As at press time, residents of Alimosho are hoping that the Federal Government’s promise of steady electricity and the clearing of legacy debts owed to Gencos will translate to improved power supply in their communities, so they can reduce dependence on expensive petrol.