By Hannah Sanusie
The recent increase in fuel prices is placing growing pressure on ordinary Sierra Leoneans, with workers, small business owners and commercial motorbike and ‘keke’ riders saying the rising cost of transportation and basic goods is making it increasingly difficult to meet their daily needs.
For self-employed businessman Idrahim Sabagwa, the impact of the fuel price increase is being felt directly in his business and household expenses. He said the cost of purchasing goods for his business has increased significantly, while transportation expenses have also risen.
“Honestly, things are not easy at all. The increase in fuel prices has greatly affected my business,” Sabagwa said.
He explained that goods such as bread, butter and other essential items have become more expensive. He also noted that meals and meat that previously cost around 35,000 Leones now cost approximately 55,000 Leones, while some items that sold for about 1,300 Leones have increased to around 1,700 Leones.
According to Sabagwa, transportation costs have added another burden, as business owners have to pay higher fares when travelling to markets to purchase goods.
He also expressed concern about parents who are struggling to meet the transportation costs of children following the reopening of schools.
“Some children need about 50,000 Leones for transportation to and from school. If the transport fare is 25,000 Leones each way, that alone amounts to 50,000 Leones,” he said.
Worker Sharif Samura also described the situation as increasingly difficult for employees, particularly because transportation costs are taking up a significant portion of their income.
He said workers are now spending heavily on transportation while still having to cover food, rent and other basic necessities.
“When you calculate how much we spend on transportation nowadays, we are spending more on transport than even on food and other basic needs,” Samura said.
He acknowledged that commercial riders are also facing difficulties because higher fuel prices force them to increase their fares.
Samura further appealed to the government to consider the situation of ordinary workers, particularly those living in rented accommodation, as the rising cost of living continues to put pressure on household incomes.
Businessman Alhaji Sheikh Kamara, who operates a business dealing in provisions, drinks and accessories in Ascension Town, said the fuel crisis is affecting both his personal finances and his customers.
He said transportation fares that were previously around 5,000 Leones have increased to 7,000 or even 10,000 Leones in some cases.
For people earning between 1.5 million and 2 million Leones a month, Kamara said, transportation costs can consume a significant portion of their monthly income, leaving them with rent, food, electricity and other expenses to cover.
He added that small businesses are also struggling because customers themselves are facing increased transportation and living costs, which affects their ability to spend.
“Sometimes, you can sit in your business throughout the day without making enough sales. From those sales, you still have to support yourself and your family and also put money back into the business so that it can grow,” Kamara explained.
Commercial keke rider Abdul Malik said the increase in fuel prices is affecting both riders and their passengers.
He explained that many passengers depend on keke transportation for their daily activities, but the rising cost of fuel has made transportation increasingly difficult for them to afford.
Malik said keke riders themselves are also struggling because they must pay the owners of the vehicles from their daily earnings while also trying to meet their personal responsibilities.
He recalled that he previously spent about 400,000 Leones to purchase 10 litres of fuel, but said the current cost has increased significantly.
“I have so many responsibilities, and the price of fuel is increasing rapidly in our country,” Malik said, adding that some of his colleagues have stopped working because they are making losses due to the high cost of fuel.
The four interviewees have appealed to the government to look into the rising fuel prices and the wider impact on transportation, businesses, workers and families.
They said reducing the burden of fuel and transportation costs would help ordinary Sierra Leoneans cope with the increasing cost of living.