Hundreds of commuters touring to the southeastern states for the Christmas season had been stranded at a number of motorbike parks in Anambra State on Sunday as transportation fares soared to over 200 %.
In protection of their motion, the carriers who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews revealed that the event was attributable to the sharp enhance within the worth of Premium Motor Spirit, additionally known as gasoline, and the sharp enhance within the variety of vacationers among the many varied motorists . parks.
Our correspondent gathered that almost all petrol stations within the main cities of Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka, regardless of quoting N680 because the pump worth, in some instances offered the product to clients for between N750 and N1,000 per liter relying on the placement. .
The event is alleged to have been attributable to the anticipated enhance within the variety of clients at fuel stations, attributable to the Christmas interval.
The rise in transport fares additionally affected each inter-state and intra-state commuters.
For instance, on Sunday, automobiles going to Aba had been charged a whopping N6,000 as a substitute of N2,500 on the Ezeiweka Motor Park in Onitsha, whereas these going to Port Harcourt had been initially charged N7,000 as a substitute of N3,000. .
Additionally at Lagos and Asaba Parks in Higher Iweka, Onitsha, automobiles going to Enugu charged as a lot as N5,000 towards N2,000 whereas these going to Owerri charged N3,500 towards N1, amongst others. 800.
The scenario was the identical at main motorbike parks in Awka, Nnewi and Ekwulobia as most commuters had been left stranded whereas others scrambled to board buses to their varied locations.
Commuters going to their varied locations throughout the communities additionally paid extra, whereas those that couldn’t afford the sudden enhance moved to their varied locations.
That is simply as a lot of the transportation firms who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews denied any data of the 50 % discount in transportation worth by the federal authorities.
The federal authorities introduced a 50 % discount in transportation costs from December 24, 2023 to January 4, 2024, to ease the burden on commuters.
Reacting to the event, Onitsha, one of many business transport operators on the Goodness and Mercy Motor Park in Higher Iweka, who recognized himself as Chukwudi, stated: “The rise in charges is predicted as a result of we’re not shopping for petrol on the identical worth as we had been shopping for it earlier than. Now, the petrol stations show the official worth of N680 per liter on their pumps, however we purchase it for as a lot as N950 per litre.
“There are occasions once we purchase it for $1,000, relying on the placement and time of day. It hasn't been straightforward for us both. I simply pray that this Christmas season will likely be over in order that the costs of issues will return to regular. The struggling is simply too nice.
“We aren’t conscious of the 50 % discount in transportation worth by the federal authorities, and there’s no signal or influence as charges proceed to rise, and it isn’t our fault. We have now no selection however to extend charges as a result of scenario in the mean time. The federal authorities ought to prolong its 50 % slash to all motorbike parks and transporters within the park in order that the plenty can really feel its influence.”
Grace Acho, a commuter on the Triangle in Nnewi, stated: “This struggling is simply an excessive amount of. I’m touring to Enugu and I’m requested to pay virtually N7,000 as a substitute of N2,500 simply because that is the Christmas season.
“I don't know why our individuals all the time do that in the course of the Christmas interval. Christmas is an enormous vacation within the South East and this kind of conduct from the carriers doesn’t sit nicely with us. South-eastern transporters ought to take a cue from their northern counterparts in not growing their charges throughout their very own celebrations.”
