• Say Fuel Price Hike Persists Despite FG, Dangote’s Intervention

• Safiu Kehinde

Without travelling bags in sight, every passers-by at the Oshodi Bus Terminal was potential passengers to Mr. Fidelis Uchendu as he made advances to get the passengers for his bus on Monday, two days to Christmas.

He sometimes reclined on the entry door of the Aba-bound luxurious bus after rounds of beckoning for passengers.

His demeanor as at 4:31pm indicated he was weary over the poor turnout of passengers which was unexpected of Yuletide season- especially from Easterners renowned for their annual mass travel back home for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Speaking with NPO Reports on Monday, the Chisco Cargo Transport Manager, decried the high cost of transportation which he attributed to increase in cost of fuel and increase in maintenance of the vehicles.

Despite running on Compressed Natural Gas, Fidelis disclosed that it costs over N400,000 for a single trip to Aba.

This alongside other expenses are accumulated and spread on transport cost for passengers which amounted to the low patronage as most people cannot afford the cost.

“In transportation, what contributed mostly is the cost of running the vehicles- talking of gas and maintenance. All these things are very high.

“Gas now will consume over N400,000 from here to Aba. Per litre now is around N1,400 to N1,500 and this bus uses over 300 litres to run from here to Aba. Calculate it and see how much you will get.

“So we charge the passengers based on the cost of running the vehicles- the overhead cost, driver’s cost, conductor, and maintenance.

“Apparently, the cost of running is on the high side. As at last year, the price was around N12,000 from here to Aba. But this time around because of the cost of living and Naira devaluation, the passengers are feeling it.

“Imagine a family of five, how will they afford the transport fare which will cost them about N300,000?” Fidelis said.

On the recent interventions by the Federal Government, Fidelis labelled them as paperwork as he held that the impact has never been felt in the transportation sector.

“I can tell you vividly that what government is doing is mere paperwork. It is not practical. If we have more practical people in government, we will see the practicality.

“If you claim to build a refinery and no security to it; you refine and they export it while domestic supply is suffering, then what is the need?” Fidelis asked.

Confirming the price increment from passengers, Alex Onyemjo, who recently travelled to the East on August, expressed shock with the sharp increase in price within four months.

“This time around, the transportation cost is too high. This one now is N40,700 for one person. Some are collecting N45,500. Last year, it was around N13,000 to N15,000.

“But this time around, the price is too much. If not because I’m going for burial, I wouldn’t have travelled. As we are going now, coming back again is the same price

“I don’t know what is actually happening. Just this August when I travelled to the village, I entered N22,300 from here.

“So many people want to travel this December but they can’t because of transport” Alex said.

The plight also extended South-West bound transporters who also recorded low patronage over transportation cost.

At Ojodu-Berger interstate bus park, an Ilorin bus driver, Abdulakeem Opeyemi, recounted how the park usually get flooded by passengers with few buses available due to the crowd during festive period.

It was, however, not the same narrative this year due to fuel price hike which resulted to high cost of transportation.

As observed by NPO Reports, buses spend more time on queue waiting for passengers.

“It is not the amount we are buying last year that we are buying this year. So it is not the same amount we charged passengers last year’s that we do this year.

“By this time last year, this place will be filled with passengers with no available buses. But it is not the same this year. Is it someone who haven’t seen money for food that will plan to travel?

“Last year charged N6,000 from here to Ilorin. But now it is N10,000. We will buy fuel from this same money and also repair our vehicles. It is not easy traveling these days.” Abdulakeem said.

On his part, Ayeni Samson, an Abeokuta driver, said the transportation business has become non-lucrative due to the cost of fuel and maintenance.

“Transportation business no longer pays for a family man. Now we refill with about N27,000 to N30,000 per trip. We pay N3,000 for loading. By the time you deduct all these which still with balance with our personal money most times, how much will you have left?” Ayeni said.

It was the same story at Ojota Motor Park where drivers and passengers bemoaned over transportation cost.

“From here to Osun now is N8,000 for bus while car charges N9,200. This was against last year when we charge N6,000.” Obafemi Samuel, an Osun driver revealed.

Also speaking with NPO Reports, the Akure Drivers NURTW Chairman at Ojota Park, Adewale Adeniyi, noted the decrease in patronage in contrast to last year December.

“Fuel is not as costly as this last year. But this year, everything is extremely costly. A trip to Benin was around N10,000 to N12,000 last year. This time around, it is about N20,000.” Adeniyi disclosed.

An Ibadan-bound passenger, Feyisayo Ogunlade, attributed the hike to inflation across the country which does not exclude the transportation sector.

“Generally, we all know that inflation is happening in Nigeria. Everything is increasing.

“Of course transportation is not excluded. Aside from inflation, the festive period also affected it.

“It is bad, but we have no choice. As at last week, I travelled to I Adam for N4,100. But today (Monday) it is N5,100.” Feyisayo said.