ENUGU- Some passengers travelling outside Enugu State on Friday groaned as transporters increased fares, following the removal of subsidy on petroleum pump price by the Federal Government.
Some passengers who spoke with Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at various motor parks, said they were surprised by the alarming increase in the transportation fares since the removal of fuel subsidy.
Miss Onyekachi Agu, a passenger at Holy-Ghost Park, said that the transporters increased the fares by up to 50 per cent.
“I know it is normal to increase transportation fares due to the removal of fuel subsidy which brought about the increase in petroleum pump price in the country, but the increase is alarming.
“Before the removal of subsidy, it was N3,500 from Enugu to Onitsha by sienna cars as against the current price of N5,000,” Agu lamented.
Mr Joshua Ibe, another passenger, said he could not afford to pay N25,200 to Lagos because as a student it was alarming.
“I have been advised to go to Onitsha, where I can get a cheaper vehicle to Lagos because I cannot afford to pay N25,200 just to get to my destination,” he said.
Mr Alex Ukoh, a passenger at Old Park, said that transportation fare to Abuja was higher than what it was before the subsidy removal on petroleum.
Ukoh added that before now, he paid N7,000 to Abuja as against the current price of N16,500 and above depending on the type of vehicle.
Mrs Tina Nwoye, a passenger at Garki Motor Park, said that the fare to Port-Harcourt had increased from N4,000 to N5,500.
” These high fares will discourage many people from travelling, except on issues that are so important to them,” Nwoye said.
Another passenger travelling to Kano, who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed worry over the lack of variety of vehicles plying the route due to the increase in prices of the fares.
“The inability by many passengers to pay for the transportation fares to Kano was why only few vehicles ply the route.
“I was told to go to Abuja or Onitsha as it will be easier for me to get Kano vehicle.
“It is unfortunately that I will pay double the amount that brought me to Enugu due to the high cost of transportation fares,” he said.
Reacting to the development, some transport managers said that the increment was as a result of the subsidy removal as a litre of fuel now goes for N650 as against N280.
The Manager of Best Motors, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that passengers needed to pay higher than before because of the increase in fuel prices, which was brought about by subsidy removal.
Mr Ifeanyi Ojukwu, Acting Manager of Ugo Star Motors, added that it had not been easy for the transporters due to the increase in petroleum pump price in the country. (NAN)
