As Petrol Price Hikes, MoT Releases . . .

By Godgift Harris

Commuters in Montserrado County are bearing the drain of the recently hiked prices of petroleum products.

As such, fresh wave of economic pressure has tightened around ordinary Liberians.

The followed government’s announcement of new transportation fares in Monrovia and its surrounding communities.

The move is directly linked to rising fuel prices that are already straining households and businesses.

Ministry of Transport (MoT) through a formal fare adjustment released on Thursday, March 26, 2026, confirmed increases affecting major commuter corridors, affecting mostly the populated region and economic hub.

Under the new fare structure, commuters traveling from Broad Street, a central commercial artery to key destinations, will now pay significantly higher rates.

The updated fares include,

Broad Street to ELWA Junction L$180-

Broad Street to Duport Road, L$220-

Broad Street to Red Light, L$250-

Broad Street to Barnesville Junction, L$170-Broad Street to 72nd Junction, L$200.

The increases come amid a sharp rise in petroleum prices, authorities disclosed that gasoline now sells at approximately L$910 per gallon, while fuel (diesel) has surged to L$1,080 per gallon up from about L$810 in 2024.

The jump represents one of the most notable fuel price hikes in recent years, with direct consequences for transportation costs.

Public outcry and economic strain, while government officials argue that the adjustment reflects global market realities.

The announcement has triggered frustration among commuters, many of whom say the increases are unbearable in an already difficult economic climate.

“This is too much for us. Our income has not increased, but everything else is going up including transport, food, rent. How do we survive,” remarked a market woman in Red Light, Paynesville?

Transport operators, on the other hand, have defended the new fares, insisting they have long operated under “unsustainable conditions.”

Commercial drivers claim that previous fare structures did not reflect the true cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance, and spare parts.

Despite the official announcement, there are growing concerns about inconsistencies and lack of clarity in the newly released fare matrix.

Several commuters and drivers report conflicting fare demands in different routes, raising fears of exploitation and weak enforcement.

The Ministry’s fare sheet outlines a wide range of routes from Duala, Freeport, and Logan Town on the Bushrod Island corridor to Sinkor, Congo Town, and ELWA along the Tubman Boulevard stretch.

 However, the complexity of the fare breakdown, coupled with limited public awareness, has left many passengers uncertain about what they should actually be paying.

Some routes appear to have multiple fare variations depending on intermediate stops, while others reflect sharp increases without clear justification.

For instance, fares previously ranging between L$30 and L$150, have now risen to as much as L$250 on certain routes, marking increases of over 60 percent in some cases.