Transport fares increased significantly across the country as motorists scrambled to get petrol amid scarcity.
Commercial drivers on Tuesday hiked their fares on various routes across Nigerian cities as long queues resurfaced in fuel stations amidst concerns over petroleum subsidy removal.
“We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. “Transport fare is now very high in many parts of the city now and it’s like a war getting cabs,” he said.
Similarly, a trip from Ifaki Ekiti to Ado Ekiti which used to cost N300 has been increased to N400 while passengers from Otun Ekiti to Ido Ekiti had to pay N600 instead of N400. “The prices will still go up if care is not taken because a litre of fuel that we used to buy N230 is now N350 here but my colleague that went to Oye Ekiti this morning said he bought it for N500.A commercial driver, Fagbamila Bolu, said he had to increase his fare for transportation because of the difficulties of getting petroleum products.
“Nigeria is gradually turning to what I don’t know, I was surprised to see transport fares increase in less than 24 hours of Mr President’s announcement. When PREMIUM TIMES visited some filling stations along major roads in the state on Tuesday, some were closed while those opened were dispensing the product at exorbitant prices.
For instance, a distance from Ibom Plaza to Ibiaku Issiet along the airport road that cost N200 before the pronouncement by President Tinubu now cost N300, an increase of 50 per cent. “Don’t blame us,” he said, referring to commercial bus operators. “Blame the petrol marketers. “Imagine, marketers, are selling fuel at N600 less than 24 hours after Mr Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy. Tomorrow, they may increase it to N1000,” he said.In Katsina State, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter gathered that transport fares rose significantly especially in the metropolis.
Bashir Ibrahim, a resident of Katsina, said he traveled to Kano from Katsina and was surprised to learn about the sharp increment. Following the announcement of the subsidy removal, PREMIUM TIMES observed in Kano and neighbouring Jigawa State that many filling stations were shut. Also, a government official who supervises the operations of government-owned buses at the Kano Line confirmed that there is a plan to increase the transport fare latest by this week.
Kingsley Umezoke, another minibus driver in the state, said many fuel stations were shut immediately after reports of fuel subsidy removal went public.
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