By Chiagoziem Abosi
When the Federal Government announced a 5% fuel surcharge earlier this year, many Lagosians braced for yet another hit to their wallets. The levy, meant to create a dedicated fund for roads and transport infrastructure, was expected to take off this September.
But in a surprise turn, Finance Minister Wale Edun revealed that implementation has been pushed to January 2026. He said this was due to “concerns about worsening the cost of living.”
Why It Matters
For Ikeja residents, where daily commutes often mean navigating pothole-filled roads or paying inflated transport fares, the surcharge felt like a double burden.
“I was already planning to start trekking from Ikeja Under Bridge to Allen,” joked Samson, a barber at Computer Village. “Government no dey see say transport don already kill us?”
Transport unions argue that while the delay offers short-term relief, the real issue is fixing Lagos roads.
A Familiar Story
Road users in Ikeja point to projects like the Agege Motor Road and Oba Akran axis, where congestion and poor drainage make every rainy season a nightmare.
“We don’t just need new taxes, we need government to show us results,” said Ngozi Umeh, a civil servant in Ikeja GRA. “Whether January or next year, if they collect surcharge and roads still bad, na waste.”
The Big Question
With over ₦500 billion reportedly required annually to maintain Nigeria’s highways, will Lagosians eventually accept the surcharge as a necessary evil? Or is this just another case of government asking citizens to pay for its failures?
👉 What do you think, Ikeja? Would you rather pay more for fuel if it guarantees better roads, or should government find another way? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
