7 Things Nigerians Once Got Free That Now Come With A Bill

There was a time when some everyday services came without an extra charge. From road tolls to shopping bags and other little conveniences, Nigerians could enjoy them without having to dig deeper into their pockets. But as businesses and service providers changed how they operate, some of these once-free conveniences gradually became additional expenses. Here are seven things Nigerians once got free that now come with a bill.

Property Inspection

There was a time when prospective tenants could inspect a house without paying simply for the opportunity to see it. Today, some house agents charge an inspection or viewing fee before taking prospective tenants to properties. In Abuja, reports have documented inspection charges running into thousands of naira, with some agents demanding as much as N20,000 to N30,000. What was once part of the house-hunting process now comes with an extra bill.

Plastic And Shopping Bags

There was a time when leaving a supermarket or shop with a few items usually meant getting a plastic bag at no extra cost. That is no longer always the case. Some supermarkets and retailers now charge customers separately for shopping bags, while others have introduced reusable bags or encouraged customers to come with their own bags as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste. The practice is not yet universal across Nigeria, but paying for a shopping bag has become increasingly familiar to consumers, particularly in organised retail.

Takeaway Packs

In the past, customers who could not finish their meals at restaurants could usually ask for the leftovers to be packed without paying extra. The restaurant would provide a plastic container as part of the service. Today, however, most restaurants charge separately for takeaway packs. What was once an ordinary courtesy is increasingly becoming an additional expense on the bill. Customers in some restaurants now have to pay extra simply to take home food they have already paid for.

WhatsApp Business Services

The latest addition to the list is one many Nigerians may notice through the businesses they deal with online. Meta has been moving WhatsApp Business Platform services towards a paid model for certain business communications. This is different from the ordinary WhatsApp app, which remains free for users. For businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform, some customer-service messages that previously fell under free messaging arrangements are now subject to Meta’s pricing structure. That means the change is unlikely to show up as a bill to an ordinary WhatsApp user. Instead, it affects businesses, including Nigerian businesses, that use WhatsApp as a customer-service or commercial channel.

Online And App Banking Transfers

There was a period when banks used free electronic transfers as an incentive to encourage customers to embrace mobile and internet banking. As digital banking became the norm, however, banks began attaching charges to electronic transfers. Customers may now pay a transfer fee when sending money, depending on the transaction and the bank’s applicable tariff, while other charges may apply separately under existing regulations. What was once promoted as a free convenience has therefore become another service for which customers may have to pay.

Some HIV Treatment Services

For years, donor-supported HIV programmes helped make treatment and related services available to Nigerians living with HIV without direct payment at participating centres. But the arrangement did not remain uniform across all facilities. A 2016 investigation found that patients at some Nigerian HIV treatment centres were being asked to pay for services, tests, treatment and consumables that had previously been provided free of charge.

Highway Tolls

For years, motorists travelling on Nigeria’s federal highways had to stop at toll gates and pay before continuing their journeys. That changed in 2003 when the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the removal of toll gates on federal roads. By 2004, the toll gates had been dismantled, allowing motorists to travel on federal highways without paying road tolls. The arrangement, however, did not last permanently. The Federal Government later approved a policy to reintroduce tolling on selected federal highways, with proposed charges ranging from N150 to N500, depending on the category of vehicle. However, the reintroduction of tolling does not apply to every major highway or bridge in the country.