Working People United (WoPU) has called on transport operators, haulage companies and food distributors to review their charges following the Federal Government’s 30-day intervention in petrol costs, warning that workers may see little relief if transportation and food prices remain elevated.
In a statement, the movement’s National Coordinator-General, Williams Akporeha, commended President Bola Tinubu for introducing the intervention but said the benefits should extend beyond filling stations to passengers, traders and households.
Akporeha argued that transportation expenses contribute significantly to the cost of moving food and other essential commodities from farms and production centres to markets. He said any genuine reduction in operating expenses should be reflected in the charges paid by consumers.
The group urged commercial drivers, logistics companies and food distributors to examine their pricing, particularly the cost of transporting agricultural produce and essential goods across the country.
“The benefits of this intervention should not end at the filling stations; they should extend to our markets, homes and workplaces,” the movement said.
WoPU warned that a reduction in petrol costs would not automatically translate into cheaper transport fares or lower food prices. It said the extent of any relief would depend on whether operators adjusted their charges in response to changes in fuel expenses.
The group also acknowledged that fuel prices were only one factor affecting the cost of food. Agricultural production expenses, distribution difficulties and other supply-chain costs could continue to influence the prices consumers encounter in markets.
It therefore called on relevant government agencies to monitor the intervention and encourage transparent pricing practices across the transportation and distribution sectors.
According to the movement, monitoring would help determine whether the intervention was producing practical benefits for workers and other consumers rather than delivering relief only at the point of fuel purchase.
WoPU further urged the Federal Government to complement the temporary measure with sustained action on the structural challenges contributing to the cost of living.
Among the areas it highlighted were high agricultural production costs and inadequate transportation infrastructure, which can affect the movement of goods and the final prices paid by consumers.
The movement maintained that economic interventions should be assessed by their effect on household finances and the purchasing power of working people. It said lower fuel expenses would be more meaningful if they helped reduce the wider costs of commuting, distributing goods and meeting basic needs.
However, whether the intervention will lead to sustained reductions in transport fares and food prices will depend on actual changes in operating costs, market conditions and pricing decisions by individual businesses.
The group’s appeal places renewed attention on the relationship between fuel costs, transportation charges and food affordability, particularly for households already under pressure from rising living expenses.
