Cheaper for Who?’ Nigerians Question Tinubu’s “Cheap” Transport Claim

By George Omagbemi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians are already benefiting from cheaper transport fares, but the claim has continued to raise questions about the economic reality confronting millions of citizens.

Tinubu’s statement comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over the cost of living, with many Nigerians still grappling with the rising costs of food, housing, fuel and daily transportation.

But the question remains: cheaper for who?

For the ordinary worker who spends a significant portion of monthly income commuting to work, the trader transporting goods and the family struggling to meet basic needs, economic conditions are measured not only by government figures but by what they can actually afford.

Hunger was there before I was born, Asiwaju. But leadership should not require citizens to pretend that hardship has disappeared simply because government announces an improvement.

If transport fares are genuinely becoming cheaper, Nigerians should be able to feel the difference in their pockets and household budgets, rather than hearing about the improvement only through official pronouncements.

The Tinubu administration has repeatedly defended its economic reforms and pointed to emerging indicators as evidence of progress. However, critics argue that such improvements must ultimately translate into tangible relief for ordinary Nigerians.

The frustration is understandable: while some Nigerians are still searching for the meaning of rascality and criminality, millions are searching for affordable food, transportation and a dignified means of survival.

For many citizens, the message from government is therefore simple: do not merely tell Nigerians that life is getting cheaper; make them feel the difference.