Fuel Scarcity: Enugu residents groan as commercial transport charges skyrocket

Commercial transport charges have skyrocketed by 100 per cent, leaving commuters groaning in Enugu metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A NAN correspondent, who monitored the development on Tuesday, reports that fares for short distances of about four or five stops away on commercial buses and tricycles have risen from N50 is now N100.

A distances covered with N100 before now, is currently charged N200.

NAN observed that the development has left many commuters, including civil servants, pupils and students trekking long distances to and from their destinations.

Reacting, a bus driver plying the Garki-Polo Park route, Mr Andy Onyia, blamed the current increase in fares on the fuel pump price hike within Enugu metropolis.

Onyia said that a situation where drivers have to buy fuel for between N200 and N210 per litre, “you don’t expect commercial bus drivers to still charge the old prices.

“If the price of fuel comes down today, I am sure, some commercial bus drivers will revert to their previous charges.

“It does not give most drivers joy seeing people suffer or being placed in hard condition of trekking long distances,” he said.

Mr Okechukwu Madu, a commercial tricycle rider, said that apart from the current fuel pump price hike, the issue of dilapidated roads remains a major factor.

Madu, who shuttles between Ogbete Main Market and Mayor Bus Stop, said: “Most roads within Enugu metropolis are dilapidated and our tricycle gets frequent wear-and-tear leading to mechanic workshop visits every week”.

A bus driver in Obiagu axis, Mr Tony Ani, said that the recent fuel price increase has had a ripple effect on current economic activities, since every other item sold in the market has witnessed an increase in price.

“To me, drivers have been the most considerate people. For long, other service providers have increased prices.

“Drivers are in the same environment and same market to buy things or pay for services with constant price increases,” Ani, who shuttles between Obiagu–Abakpa, said.