Chidinma Iroegbu
President of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Dr. Musa Mohammed Mai Takobi, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, said transport operators are reducing profit margins to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians, describing the development as a global challenge affecting the transport sector.
Mai Takobi stated this while addressing journalists at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, where he spoke on the implications of fuel price increases on road transportation and the response of transport operators across the country.
According to him, the surge in fuel prices is not peculiar to Nigeria but part of a worldwide economic problem influencing transportation costs and other sectors.
“This is not only Nigeria’s problem; it is a global problem. You and I can only pray to Almighty Allah to stop what is happening and bring the price down,” he said.
The RTEAN president explained that transport operators cannot sell their services below operational costs, noting that market realities determine transport fares.
“If someone goes out as a businessman and buys something for ten naira, you cannot expect him to sell it for nine naira automatically,” he said.
However, he said members of the association have adopted measures to ease the burden on commuters by cutting their expected profits.
“For instance, if we would normally gain ten naira, we reduce it to five naira so we can assist the public,” Mai Takobi stated.
He also urged Nigerians to conduct their businesses with fairness and moderation, stressing that excessive profiteering during difficult economic conditions would worsen the hardship faced by citizens.
“My call to Nigerians is that we should have the fear of God. If you buy something cheaply, you should sell it cheaply. If you buy it at a high price, try to minimise the profit so that people can afford it,” he said.
On election logistics, Mai Takobi clarified that RTEAN is distinct from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which has previously been linked to election transportation activities.
He explained that when election logistics arrangements were signed in 1999, the association was dealing with internal leadership disputes and was therefore not part of the agreement.
“Now that the union is united, Insha’Allah, we will participate in election logistics, including equipment delivery,” he added.
The RTEAN president also outlined plans to modernise public transportation in Nigeria, noting that the association is working towards digitalising operations and improving security within the sector.
He said efforts are ongoing to address illegal activities such as thuggery and “one chance” robberies, while the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles is increasing, with some stations now recording between 150 and 200 vehicles waiting to refuel.