Cost of living pressures force vehicle maintenance delays and abandonment

Rising cost-of-living pressures are significantly impacting vehicle ownership and maintenance across different regions. In Australia, a survey by the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) involving 1,000 motorists in Victoria and Tasmania found that nearly a quarter of drivers cannot afford necessary vehicle servicing. The strain is most acute among drivers under 35 and households earning less than $90,000 annually, where the figure rises to one-third. VACC CEO Peter Jones noted that many motorists are delaying repairs or cutting corners to save money, which may lead to higher long-term costs and road safety risks.

Similarly, in Nigeria, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) reports that university workers are struggling to afford basic necessities. SSANU President Muhammad Haruna Ibrahim stated that many staff members have been forced to abandon their vehicles because they can no longer afford fuel costs. The economic hardship is also affecting access to healthcare, food, electricity, and school fees, leading to declining morale among non-teaching staff in federal universities.