Leadnaija
LAGOS – Nigerians have lamented over the high cost of transportation charged by vehicle drivers who convey passengers to different parts of the country, stressing that their actions are threatening the joy associated with celebration in the yuletide season.
A visit by our reporter to some of the interstate transport terminals across Lagos State shows that transport fares have increased by over 100 percent as of Saturday, December 21..Tap Here to Read the Full Story ▶▶
GUO Motors, an interstate transport company, charges N48,000, N57,000, N62,000 from Lagos to Onitsha, Owerri and Port Harcourt, respectively. These trips used to cost N24,000, N30,000 and N40,000, respectively, for the same distance in November.
The story is the same for Libra Motors, which gave its rates as NN49,500, N58,000 and N65,000 for the same destinations. The figures also represent about 100 percent increase from its rates last month.
Rivers of Joy Transport Company gave its rate to Abuja and Port Harcourt at N68,000 and N57,000, respectively.
Our reporter, who spoke with some of the commuters, heard various forms of lamentations from them, as they expressed displeasure with the shylock activities of the bus owners.
One of the commuters who simply gave his name as Emeka said, “I don’t understand why these people will double the transportation fare arbitrarily. The fuel price didn’t increase, there is no reason for this arbitrary increase. You know that things are really very difficult in the country now. It’s surprising that after the government has subjected us to so much suffering, our own people would join hands to increase our pain.
“We have mass returns every December in my village and this is the first time in 15 years that I won’t travel with my family for the festivity. It is indeed very painful. We even heard that the government has reduced the pump price of fuel, so why are they increasing the fares by about 100 percent. If I have to travel with my family of seven, it means we will spend close to N1 million for just transportation because when we are coming back in January it will be the same story from East to Lagos.” Emeka said.
Another commuter, who didn’t want his name in print, said that the government is encouraging them to deal with Nigerians and wondered why there shouldn’t be a form of regulation.
“If the government is concerned about the welfare of its citizens it shouldn’t allow these people to get away with this. If the government wants to check them, they can set up tax force to control their activities. This N48,000 that I just paid was N24,000 in October when I travelled to the East, so what went wrong. I am travelling alone because the meeting is very important, otherwise I would just stay back in Lagos. Nigerians have been turned to slaves in their own country. There is nothing to look forward to again. It is very sad.”
Daily Independent spoke with some of the transporters to get their views on the issue.
A staff of GUO motors in one of its terminals in Lagos, who wanted to remain anonymous, said, “Madam, why do you ask, as if you don’t know that this is a festive period? When we get to the East we won’t have passengers back to Lagos. You know what the cost of fuel is like. So, we will load passengers to the East and come back to Lagos empty. Who will bear the cost? Secondly, in the East, fuel doesn’t sell for N1,050 per litre like in Lagos. We buy fuel in the East between N1200 and N1,300 per litre.”
The reporter also spoke with a lady, who works at one of Okeyson Motors terminals. She confirmed what his counterpart at GUO Motors said and noted that the rate is still increasing.
She said: “This price that we’re giving you is just for today, by tomorrow you will not get it at same rate. The people who are complaining about price increase are aware of what the economy looks like. The prices of motor spare parts increase every day. These vehicles will be maintained. How much do they buy one sachet of water now? N50. We don’t have a different market where we buy things. If they sit in the vehicles, they expect to be comfortable and that costs money. We didn’t cause the problem in the country. They should hold government accountable”…Tap Here to Read the Full Story ▶▶
