- Safiu Kehinde
Ogun state transport workers has, on Tuesday , vowed to stop arbitrary fare hike in the state.
The transport workers made this promise during a meeting on Tuesday between their union leaders and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, at Panseke Motor Park in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of Ogun State Park Management Scheme (OGSPAM), Akeem Bodunrin, expressed the union’s readiness to comply with Abiodun’s desire to relief citizens of the burden of exorbitant transport fares due to the high cost of fuel.
Abiodun also expressed hope in the reduction of fuel cost once the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and e-bikes are made available as promised by Abiodun.
“We came to speak with our drivers and union on how best to be humane with transport fares, and we have seen that the increment in transport fares isn’t much. No one has increased union tickets; the high cost of fuel is still the major issue. However, we promise to comply and cooperate with our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on his quest to make life meaningful for the people of the state,” Bodunrin said.
In the same vein, Ogun State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mustapha noted that the cost of transporting goods, services, and people will eventually decrease very soon with the expected release of 100 CNG-enabled buses by the state government and another 20 by the Federal Government next week.
“Look at our Governor; he has given us Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and e-mobility bikes to help with the high cost of fuel. What determines price is the distance and fuel consumption. By the time we take delivery of the 100 CNG-enabled buses promised by Governor Dapo Abiodun, our reliance on fuel will definitely reduce. We urge our people to be patient with us,” he said.
On his part , the state Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Titilayo Akibu, commended Governor Abiodun for his strides in revolutionizing the transport sector in the state with the introduction of CNG-enabled buses and e-bikes.
He stressed that when the unions eventually take ownership of the CNG buses, the cost of transportation in the state will reduce drastically.
The National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Samsudeen Apelogun, promised that they would support the vision and mission of Governor Abiodun.
Apelogun, while noting that the exchange rate has also affected the cost of motorcycles and tricycles in the country, expressed their belief that the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed, when fully in operation, would help bring down the costs of fuel, motorcycles, and tricycles.
On his part, the State Chairman of the Articulate Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), Otunba Taofeek Sokoya, noted that the e-bikes have brought about a new regime of transport fares for motorcycle subscribers in the state.
Otunba Sokoya called on the people of the state and traders to help the government by introducing a friendly price regime in their various business endeavors.
Sokoya also commended Governor Abiodun for the e-bikes, noting that the union, which has been able to sell about 55 of the bikes given to them, is craving for more as more people are now showing interest.
“Our members are loyal, and they will understand us when we tell them to reduce the cost of transport fares. We, as a union, will also give them something in return too. We must help our Governor to succeed because he has done well for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dapo Abiodun, while addressing newsmen at the meeting, boasted of his administration’s achievement on road network projects across the state.
“Today, we can brag and say not only have we constructed over 600 kilometres of highway or road- both interstate, intrastate, inner city road. I beat my chest and say there is no local government today that does not have at least one or two roads that we have reconstructed in the last five years.” He said.