By Sunday Michael Ogwu
Nigerians are leaving their jobs in large numbers, unable to keep up with the rising cost of getting to work, even as unemployment rates continue to soar.
A recent investigation by Pinnacle Daily reveals that many Nigerians are quitting their jobs because transportation and daily expenses now swallow up most or all of their income.
Commenting on the effect of inflation since 2019, the World Bank said, “High inflation has been persistent in Nigeria for the past two decades, but since 2019 inflation has increased substantially, driven by the multiple exchange rates and exchange rate depreciation in the parallel market, intensified trade restrictions, and the monetisation of the public deficit by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Due to the spike in inflation, currently at 23 per cent, the average cost of transportation has hit rooftops.
“Going to Work is No Longer Worth It”
Usman Gadi, an accountant living in Gwagwalada and working in Wuse 2, Abuja, shares his struggle: “I spend about N6,000 every day just to commute to work—N120,000 monthly. Add ₦20,000 for daily meals, and that’s ₦140,000 from my ₦150,000 salary before tax. How can I cope?”
Gadi’s rent is N1.2 million a year, nearly his entire annual take-home pay. “After transport and rent, I have nothing left for feeding my family or paying school fees,” he laments.
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Grace Obiora, 30, tells a similar story: “I’m on my third job this year, but every month I end up in debt. I’m now considering being domestic staff just so my food and accommodation are covered.”
Sharing Spaces, Skipping Meals: Everyday Sacrifices
Temitope, a young administrative officer, has a unique arrangement to save on transportation costs:
“I sleep at the office with our security guards five days a week. It’s better to use my ₦4,000 daily transport fare for food.”
Employers also feel the pinch. Mrs. Emmanuel Alewa, a director at a consulting firm recruiting for banks, says, “We advertise jobs, but people aren’t interested. They do the math and see it doesn’t make sense. Even those who accept the jobs are leaving because they can’t survive.”
Teachers, the Unsung Casualties
According to Dr Chinenye Ebele Onuorah, Team Lead at Regalo Hope Foundation:
“Teachers are among the worst hit. Most barely survive on their wages, which are quickly eroded by inflation.”
She warns that the education sector is at risk if nothing is done to support teachers dealing with rising costs.
Falling Inflation Numbers Mean Little for Struggling Nigerians – Muda
While official data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows a reduction of inflation from 34.8% in December 2024 to 24.5% in January 2025, many experts caution that these numbers do not translate into lower costs of living.
Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), clarifies: “A reduction in inflation figures doesn’t mean prices have dropped. It simply means that the rate at which prices are increasing has slowed. High prices are still a reality, and this is what matters most to Nigerian families and businesses.
“High energy costs, a weak naira, soaring transport fares, and insecurity continue to weigh heavily on everyone.”
Dr Yusuf urges policymakers to push for actual price moderation, not just improved figures: “What households and businesses want is real price reduction, not just a slower increase. Let’s focus on actual disinflation, not just better stats.”
Sunday Michael Ogwu is a Nigerian journalist and editor of Pinnacle Daily. He is known for his work in business and economic reporting. He has held editorial roles in prominent Nigerian media outlets, where he has focused on economic policy, financial markets, and developmental issues affecting Nigeria and Africa more broadly.