Investigations by This Flagship Niger Delta Online Newspaper since post COVID-19, have revealed how commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders continue to jack up transportation fares in Delta state, over natural occurrences, having no bearing with the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, diesel or maintenance of the automobile parts.
The frivolous increases, which started in the year 2020 when social distancing was canvassed to curtail the spread of COVID - 19, continued even after the commercial bus drivers and tricycle riders resumed normal service of carrying the usual number of passengers, the buses and tricycles were designed to carry.
In some cases, the tricycles carry beyond the required three passengers at the back and squeeze two more passengers in the front, without reducing the transportation fares.
Findings by This Soaring International Tabloid, also unearthed the sharp increase in transportation fares within the state, immediately President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, announced on May 29,2023 that fuel subsidy was gone.
Whilst the removal of fuel subsidy, police activities on major roads, cost of maintenance of automobiles and several controversial sale of tickets by touts, contribute to the spike in transport fares in Delta state, particularly Delta South and Delta Central Senatorial Districts, a worrying dimension began months ago, when transporters started increasing fares arbitrarily on the excuse that rain fell, it's dark ( night hours) and market days.
Our Dig Deep within the last few months, revealed that whenever rain falls or still drizzling, a commuter will be compelled to pay N500 from Ekurede Itsekiri/ Ugbori Junction and Ugbuwangue Junction in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area, to Effurun Roundabout in Uvwie Local Government Area, instead of the usual N400 charged for same route. When it's also getting dark or rain falls, commuters would be made to pay between N300 and N250 from the popular Express Junction in Ekpan ( Uvwie Local Government Area, Off the NPA Expressway) to Jeddo in Okpe Local Government Area, as against the usual N200 fare.
A staff of Fresh Angle International Newspaper, had to pay N400 from Idumure Junction, along PTI Road in Effurun to Okumagba Estate Roundabout in Warri this morning, Thursday June 13, instead of the usual fare of N300. When she asked what led to the sharp increase, the tricycle rider, retorted: " You nor know say today nah market day? Nah so we dey carry passengers on market days."
As at the time of this report, Deltans and non - Deltans living in the state, continue to lament the arbitrary increase in transportation fares, almost on daily and weekly basis, with no intervention by the state government, to mitigate the situation.
Photo Credit: Agbasoga Vivian Idu
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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