Despite fuel price cuts, CNG traveler’s still cringe over fare hikes

Nigerians have continued to lament the sustained hike in transportation fares despite the reduction in fuel pump price and the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas for both commercial and private transportation, an alternative to the Premium Motor Spirit.

Thirty-one passengers who spoke with our correspondent across major parks in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states lamented the exorbitant fares occasioned by the various transport unions.

The passengers said fares have remained unaffordable since the premium motor spirit went as high as N1200 per litre, with fares hiked close to 400 per cent since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.

Findings by our correspondent showed that commercial transporters pay three statutory levies in every park depending on the leadership of the park and state governments.

The levies, according to commercial drivers, are the booking fee, loading fee and ticket fee, all paid daily to the unions at motor parks to the disadvantage of drivers.

Meanwhile, the average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journeys in Nigeria in April 2024 surged to N7,122.57 from N3,994.51 in April 2023, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics Transport Fare Watch for April 2024.

The report also mentioned a minor decrease of 0.43 per cent month-on-month, with the average fare decreasing from N7,152.97 in March 2024.

On Iwo Road, an Ondo-bound passenger, Ayinla Idris, said his business was on the verge of collapse, no thanks to the rise in transport fares.

He noted that commercial transportation on land is a major decider of the Nigerian economy, especially as it concerns small and medium-scale businesses.

He, however, regretted that such an important sector was left to be controlled by people perceived to be touts and uneducated persons.

He added that the effort of President Bola Tinubu ought to have been noticed by the masses, but the transport unions have been frustrating the Federal Government’s innovations and efforts.

He recalled an incident when members of the National Road Transport Workers subjected him to humiliation for interfering in their discussion with a commercial driver.

He called on government at all levels to wade into the matter, adding that the fees forcefully taken from drivers on a daily basis have been a “major reason Nigerians have continued to groan over exorbitant transport fares.

He added, “Costly transportation fees are resultant from the many challenges facing Nigerian businesses. As a matter of fact, my business is dying already, and this was majorly caused by high transport fares. SMEs do not need to be pressured.

“More often than not, what I sell in Ondo State is expensive because of transportation, and if you check the reason for this, you will discover that it is because some people have collected the sitting fee for two passengers from drivers at the garage, and the drivers must make up for that by increasing fares. These then immediately trickle down to the masses. These people don’t give any form of accounts to anybody except their collaborators in government.”

Another passenger, Iyinola Aderibigbe, expressed disappointment in government at all levels, saying they gave free hands to ‘area boys’ to afflict Nigerians.

“Both state and Federal Governments kept mute like nothing was happening. Aside from the high fee, we are also uncomfortable going by the number of persons they force on a seat. They overload vehicles, making such vehicles prone to accidents, all in their pursuit of extra gain. Unions then take this money from drivers with impunity, harassment and readiness to pounce on any passenger who attempts to interfere.”

A driver, Adediwura Kazeem, said the current structure for commercial transporters in the country seems to have been targeted at drivers with the sole aim of impoverishing them.

He begged the government to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and adequately regulate the industry with the goal of making life easier for the common man.

“ We only work and give the money to fuel attendants, mechanics, and, most annoyingly, the transport unions. When you newly buy your vehicle, your aim would be to save enough to be able to procure another one, but that has not been the case. Today in Nigeria, we only work to the extent that our vehicles are abandoned at mechanic workshops when we can no longer foot the bills for repairs anymore and then go to these same union executives who have fed fat on our hard-earned money to take another bus on higher purchase. When do we then stop being slaves?

“Drivers are suffering in this country, and transport unions are getting fat.”