Sachet Water Still Sells for #10 In Kaduna Amidst Subsidy Removal
Sachet Water Still Sells for #10 In Kaduna Amidst Subsidy Removal
The recent decision by President Bola Tinubu to scrap the fuel subsidy has caused a sharp increase in the prices of goods and services in many places in Nigeria, but not in Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna state.
A traveller who left Benin for Kaduna a few days ago told Pristinegist that he noticed a huge difference in the cost of living between the two cities. He said that people still buy pure water for 10 naira in Kaduna, while in Benin, pure water is now sold at two for 50 nairas.
He also observed that the transport fares in Kaduna have only increased by 50 nairas for most routes, while in Benin, the fares have more than doubled or tripled. For instance, he said that from Sabo to Central Market in Kaduna, the fare is now 200 naira, up from 150 nairas before the subsidy removal. But from Ring Road to Bypass in Benin, the fare has jumped from 300 naira to between 500 and 1000 naira.
He wondered why there was such a disparity in the prices of essential commodities and services between the two states, especially since fuel costs more in Kaduna than in Benin. He said that some fuel stations sell petrol above 700 naira per litre in Kaduna, while in Benin, petrol goes for between 580 and 620 nairas per litre.
The fuel subsidy removal was announced by President Tinubu during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. He said that the subsidy was no longer sustainable and that the funds would be used for public infrastructure and social welfare. The policy took effect on July 1, 2023.
The subsidy removal has sparked protests and strikes by labour unions and civil society groups across the country, who say that it will worsen the economic hardship and poverty faced by millions of Nigerians. They have demanded that the government reverse the policy or provide palliatives to cushion the effect of the price hike.
