Nigerians Rethink Survival After Fuel Hike
When President Tinubu removed fuel subsidies in May 2024, it was a move designed to reset Nigeria’s long-fractured economic framework.
But what followed wasn’t just an economic recalibration it was a national shockwave.
Fuel prices tripled.
Transport fares surged.
Living costs ballooned.
One year later, Nigerians are still grappling with the realities of that decision.
Yet, amid the hardship, a remarkable pattern has emerged: survival.
Not passive endurance but active, creative, and bold adaptations that speak volumes of the Nigerian spirit.
This is the story of how fuel hike survival strategies are shaping a new era of resilience across Nigeria.
From Subsidy to Survival: A Nation Adjusts
Before the subsidy removal, petrol sold at around ₦185 per litre.
Within weeks, that price soared above ₦600 and in some regions, even more.
For millions who depend on daily transportation, this meant doubling their commuting budgets.
Grace, a single mother in Ibadan, recalls the immediate impact: “My salary remained the same, but transport alone was swallowing 40% of it.
I had to start walking part of the way to work just to save money.”
These survival strategies are no longer isolated stories they’re the new normal.
The Daily Commute: How Nigerians Are Adapting on the Move
Transportation is often the first casualty of rising fuel costs. With bus fares nearly doubling, Nigerians have turned to ingenious alternatives:
Carpooling apps and WhatsApp ride groups now thrive in Lagos and Abuja.
Okada riders in Kaduna have introduced bulk discounts for return customers.
In Makurdi, students rent bicycles to cut down weekly campus expenses.
Commuting no longer simply means getting from point A to B.
It’s a test of resourcefulness and many are rising to the challenge.
Cooking with Creativity: Alternatives in the Kitchen
The cost of cooking gas and kerosene has also spiked.
In response, families are rethinking how they prepare meals. Some popular strategies include:
Energy-saving cooking pots with heat-retaining lids.
Batch cooking on weekends using communal firewood or shared gas.
Adoption of fuel-efficient stoves, introduced by NGOs in northern communities.
“I used to cook every day,” says Ifunanya, a mother of two in Enugu.
“Now I cook twice a week and store in coolers. It’s not ideal, but it helps.”
These kitchen adjustments may seem small, but when scaled across households, they save thousands of naira monthly.
Small Businesses: Pivot or Perish
For Nigeria’s informal sector comprising tailors, barbers, welders, and food vendors the fuel hike was an existential threat.
Many rely on petrol generators for daily operations.
Uchenna, a barbershop owner in Onitsha, shares his journey: “I was spending over ₦3,000 daily on fuel.
I almost shut down.
But then I bought a small solar inverter. It was costly, but now I don’t buy fuel.”
Others have downsized, relocated to shared spaces, or shifted focus online.
Some are now operating only during daylight hours to cut generator use entirely.
In this space, fuel hike survival strategies have become about sustainability, not just survival.
The Digital Hustle: Nigeria’s Youth Go Online
Nigerian youth, ever tech-savvy and entrepreneurial, have taken the fuel hike as a cue to go digital.
On TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Nigerians are:
Selling digital products like ebooks and online courses.
Launching fuel-saving hack pages.
Offering tutorials on homemade solar power kits.
James, a 23-year-old content creator in Jos, runs a channel titled “Surviving Fuel Hike Naija Style.”
His videos from cooking with sawdust to commuting on scooters have racked up over 500,000 views.
“When fuel got too expensive,” he says, “I realized I could either complain or create. I chose to create.”
Community Comes First: Grassroots Survival Strategies
Beyond individual hustle, communities are banding together to lighten the burden.
In Abeokuta, local taxi unions introduced a “community ride day” with subsidized fares every Sunday.
Churches and mosques are organizing group shopping to buy food items in bulk and share costs.
In Akwa Ibom, residents take turns using a single solar freezer to preserve perishables.
The emphasis is shifting from “me” to “we.” And in this collective approach, new support systems are taking shape.
Government Palliatives: A Missed Opportunity?
Despite repeated announcements of fuel subsidy palliatives, many Nigerians say help has yet to reach them.
“I registered for the cash transfer program in June last year,” says Femi, a factory worker in Oyo. “I got one ₦10,000 alert and that was it. Nothing since.”
Critics argue that the failure of structured support deepens hardship and erodes public trust.
Fuel hike survival strategies are evolving without meaningful government support which raises questions about accountability and inclusion.
Gendered Impact: Women Bear the Brunt
Women, especially those heading households, have been disproportionately affected.
Many have taken on extra jobs, started side hustles, or pulled children out of private schools.
Maryam, a widow in Kaduna, began selling puff-puff by the roadside to offset rising expenses. “I’m exhausted, but my kids must eat,” she says.
Support programs targeting women are urgently needed.
So far, community-based women’s groups have stepped in where formal institutions have failed.
Turning to Nature: The Urban Farming Boom
One surprising side effect of the fuel crisis? A surge in urban farming.
In Lagos, rooftop gardens are flourishing.
Moreover, in Port Harcourt, idle plots are now filled with vegetables.
Many Nigerians are rearing poultry or goats in their backyards.
“I never thought I’d grow ugu,” says Tobi, a banker-turned-farmer in Ikeja. “Now I sell to my neighbours and spend less at the market.”
Fuel hike survival strategies are turning citizens into producers and not just consumers.
Alternative Energy Gains Momentum
As fuel costs continue to climb, renewable energy is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity.
Solar kits and rechargeable lanterns are flying off shelves.
Rural communities are pooling funds to install micro solar grids.
Engineers in Nsukka are experimenting with biogas cookers using waste.
Experts believe this may finally be the push Nigeria needs toward energy diversification.
But affordability remains a barrier. Until solar products become mainstream and subsidized, their reach will remain limited.
Psychological Toll: The Cost Beyond Naira
The fuel hike has not only drained wallets it has tested mental health.
Stress, anxiety, and fatigue are on the rise, especially among breadwinners juggling multiple jobs.
A study by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) showed a 27% spike in stress-related health complaints since June 2024.
Mental health support is still taboo in many communities, but conversations are beginning.
Social media has become a place where Nigerians vent, cry, laugh and heal.
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What the Experts Are Saying
Economists remain divided.
“Yes, subsidy removal was necessary,” says Prof. Adebayo Olaniyan of UI’s Economics Department.
“But the lack of structure, support, and timing caused a humanitarian strain.”
Others argue the hardship was avoidable.
“A phased approach with palliatives would have softened the blow,” notes Abuja-based policy analyst, Dr. Grace Egbunike.
One thing is certain: fuel hike survival strategies shouldn’t have replaced planned national interventions.
Hope Amid Hardship: Stories That Inspire
Amid all the hardship, inspiration abounds:
A youth corps member in Kogi started a local transport service with electric bicycles.
One grandmother in Calabar turned her plantain farm into a co-op, supplying food to five families.
A group of tech students in Minna designed an app that connects commuters to the cheapest fuel stations in town.
Every Nigerian is finding a way sometimes small, sometimes grand to reclaim agency in uncertain times.
What Comes Next?
The road ahead remains challenging.
Inflation continues to rise. Transportation remains costly. Energy access is unequal.
Yet, the strength of Nigerian citizens refuses to bend.
What’s needed now is:
1. Government transparency in fund usage from subsidy savings.
2. Investment in local alternatives renewable energy, local transport, and agriculture.
3. Support for small businesses and women-led households.
Fuel hike survival strategies are not just short-term hacks they are blueprints for a more resilient Nigeria.
Conclusion: Survival Isn’t Enough Nigerians Deserve Stability
The removal of fuel subsidies reshaped life for every Nigerian. But as the dust settles, a deeper story is unfolding not of collapse, but of courage.
From the streets of Lagos to the farms of Nasarawa, Nigerians are rising not because they have a choice, but because survival is in their DNA.
Yet survival shouldn’t be the goal. Stability, equity, and growth must follow.
The question is no longer “Can Nigerians survive?” It’s “When will they thrive?”
Join the Conversation:
Have you developed any creative ways to deal with rising fuel costs?
Share your strategy in the comments we’d love to feature your story!
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