By LUCY OGALUE

For many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), trekking is no longer a matter of choice but a daily survival strategy as rising transport fares continue to strain household budgets.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that trekking had become the order of the day for them.

Across major districts, including Wuse, Garki, Area 1, Utako, Jabi, Lugbe, Kubwa and Nyanya, increasing numbers of commuters were opting to walk part of their journeys to reduce transport expenses.

The residents said that In spite recent adjustments in fuel prices, transport fares have remained largely unchanged, forcing them to rethink their daily commuting habits.

Mrs Stella Osakwe, a civil servant said she resorted to trekking because she could no longer cope with her monthly expenses which had kept increasing.

Osakwe said, “I used to spend about N2, 400 daily on transport. Now I trek from Area 10 to Area 8 before boarding a vehicle to Nicon junction where my office is.

“This saves me about N1, 000 every day, which I now use to offset some other household expensis.”

Another commuter, Mr Francis Ujah, said trekking had become unavoidable as salaries remained stagnant while the cost of living continued to rise.

“My salary has not increased, but transport, food, school fees and electricity bills keep rising. Something has to give way, and transport is where I cut costs.”

A trader at Wuse Market, Mr Yusuf Hassan, said many customers now arrive on foot and spend less because most of their income goes toward meeting essential household needs.

“People complain about transport every day. Some tell me they trekked for almost an hour just to save money.

“Even those of us traders, we cannot help but increase the price of some of our products because of the cost of bringing them to the market,” Hassan said.

Commercial drivers said that transport fares remained high because the cost of vehicle maintenance, spare parts, engine oil and tyres had continued to increase.

A taxi driver, Mr Sunday Tunde, said many people think transport was only about fuel but there was more to it.

“We hear that the crises in the middle east have eased and the cost of fuel is supposed to drop but it has not happened yet.

“Other than that, the cost of maintaining our vehicles has drastically increased due to the fact that spare parts are very expensive.

“Moreso, we all shop from the same markets and have families and bills to settle, and this is all the means we have to make money.

“So, you cannot blame us drivers. Our hands are equally tied. We are only hoping and praying for a miracle possibly through government intervention,” Tunde said.

Another commuter, Mr Godwin Ifeanyi, said workers had continued to bear the burden of rising living costs amid stagnant wages.

“The increasing number of workers trekking to work is a reflection of the pressure on household incomes.

“It underscores the need for policies that improve workers’ purchasing power.”

A Public Analyst, Mr Chukwuma Ogechi, said the development presented an opportunity for government to invest more in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

“If more people are walking, cities should provide safer sidewalks, street lighting, pedestrian bridges and crossings to reduce accidents,” he said.

An economist, Dr Gideon Maigida, said the trend reflected declining purchasing power among low and middle-income earners.

“When real incomes fail to keep pace with inflation, households begin to cut discretionary spending.

“For many workers, reducing transport costs by walking becomes an economic necessity,” Maigida said.

According to the economist, prolonged inflation forces families to adjust their spending patterns, with transport often becoming one of the first areas where savings are made.

A public health expert, Dr Prudence Simon, said moderate trekking offered health benefits but warned against excessive trekking under harsh weather conditions.

“Walking improves cardiovascular health, but people trekking long distances should stay hydrated, wear comfortable footwear and avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat,” she said.

The expert also urged authorities to improve pedestrian infrastructure, noting that many Abuja roads lacked safe walkways and crossings.

Some residents expressed hope that improvements in the economy would eventually reduce transport costs.

Others, however, said trekking had become part of their daily routine and would remain so until their incomes improved.

For now, every kilometre trekked represents a few hundred naira saved. Money many households say now goes toward food, children’s education and other pressing needs. (NAN)

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