Some passengers travelling outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have lamented the galloping increase in fare, owing to the raise in petrol pump price and other factors.The passengers, who spoke with newsmen at various motor parks, in the territory expressed concerns over the 150 pee cent to 200 per cent increase in interstate transport fare.

Dr Femi Aluko, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, who spoke with our correspondent at Area 3 Park, Garki said the interstate road fare had more than doubled, compared to the previous year. Aluko said he paid N36,000 for a seat in a 18-seater bus to Ile-Ife in Osun State, compared to N13,000 price before the removal of subsidy by the current administration.“The removal of fuel subsidy as well as the recent hike in fuel price has significantly contributed to the surge in transport fare.“With petrol being a major energy source for transportation companies, they have no choice but to pass on the increased cost to passengers.“Nigeria’s economic situation, including inflation and currency fluctuations also played a role in the fare increase. The country’s economic instability has led to higher operating costs for transportation companies, which are then reflected in higher fare.“Changes in demand and supply has also impacted transport fare. For instance, many people who will, ordinarily travel by air, have resulted to road, because of the ultra hike in air ticket.“Also, during the peak in travel season, such as holidays and festivals, demand for transportation also increases, leading to higher fare, “ the don explained.According to him, different regions in Nigeria have unique economic and infrastructural challenges that affect transportation cost.He explained that the areas with poor road conditions or security concerns required additional costs for maintenance and safety measures.Mrs Christiana Richard, a business woman, who was on transit to Enugu, told newsmen at the Jabi Park that the removal of fuel subsidy had led to higher fuel costs and transportation.According to her, the subsidy removal had pushed up interstate transport fare by over 120 per cent to 200 per cent across Nigeria.Richard said she paid N35,000 transport fare to Enugu which was N15,000 when she travelled to that city in November, 2023“I paid N25,000 when I returned to Abuja on Dec. 26, that was yuletide season. However, the price returned to N15,000 in January before it skyrocketed to N35,000 because of fuel hike.“ People are suffering, masses are the ones feeling the major impact of everything. We pray that the government will quickly find a solution to all these, before things get out of hand, “she said.Another passenger, Mr Abiodun Akinpelu, an Assistant Director in a federal ministry who was travelling to Lagos from Gbazango Park in Kubwa, said he booked his ticket online and paid N41,000 to Ibadan.According to him, the transport company, God is Good, has a flat fare rate for passengers going to Ibadan and Lagos.Akinpelu narrated an ugly experience when he travelled from Abuja to Lagos the previous week and their vehicle broke down along Obajana to Kabba road in Kogi state.According to him, all the passengers were stranded for hours until other buses from the same company were picking them in batches.“I went on official duty, but the flight ticket approved for me was N200, 000 to cover to and fro while my Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for three night was N75,000, that is N25,000 per night, to cover accommodation, feeding and miscellaneous.“When I tried to book an air ticket, the least I got was N150,000 from Abuja to Lagos, I, therefore had no option, than to consider going by road, which I considered riskier,” he said.Akinpelu appealed to government to urgently do something about the high cost of petrol and aviation fuel to ease the burdens of commuters.He equally called for an urgent roll out of enough CNG buses on interstate routes in the immediate term and the completion of Lagos-Abuja standard gauge rail which the previous administration priotised.The civil servant appealed to the government to upwardly review the transportation and DTA of civil servants on official duty to reflect the current economic situation.Corroborating Akinpelu, another civil servant who was deployed from Abuja, by the establishment to cover the recently concluded Edo State governorship election in Benin, said the organisation paid N265,000 for transportation and three night DTA“The only option I had was to travel by road, because the N200,000 approved for me on air tickets could only cover for one way.“I think this is one of the reasons why there are lot of pressure on interstate routes and the transporters are capitalising on this to jerk up the fare,” the official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.Some transport union leaders who spoke with our correspondent admitted that the increase in fuel price, recently, had worsened the road transportation in the country.Mr Abbas Abubakar, Chairman, Garki Park’s, long Journey/Interstate unit, said that transportation fare from Abuja to other states had really increased compared to the previous year.“Last year, we were carrying passengers from here to Gombe, N6,000. But this year, based on scarcity and increased price of fuel, the fare is more than doubled.“From here to Gombe now cost N14,000, while the fare to Lagos is N38,240 which was N18,000, last year.“The situation is not different, travelling to the Eastern part of the country. Transport fare is more than doubled when compared to the last year,” he said.Abubakar, however, expressed optimism that the situation would soon change with the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative being implemented by the present government.According to him, many commercial drivers in Abuja have started converting their vehicles into CNG.“Instead of going to the filing station to buy N1,000 per liter of petrol, you can buy 75kg of the CNG gas at the rate of N3,400.“If you are commuting within Abuja, you can use the 75kg of CNG bought at N3,400, conveniently for a week. It will also take you from Abuja to Kaduna, a distance of about 191km.“I am a living witness and I can testify to it, because I am the first person to convert my vehicle to CNG, among commercial drivers in our park, shortly after the federal government introduced it at Area 3,” he said.Mr Orji Kingsley, FCT Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), who also spoke with Newsmen, expressed dissatisfaction with the incessant increase of interstate fare, saying that many drivers are only working to make the ends meet.According to him, the price of petrol in Nigeria had been quite volatile, since the removal of subsidy and the recent increase in pump price of the commodity by the government.“In May 2023, the price surged from N195 to N557 per liter due to the removal of fuel subsidy. By July 2023, the price had increased further to N617 per liter, resulting in a significant impact on transportation costs.“Presently, we are buying fuel between N1000 to N1300 per litre depending on the filling stations and the area“We are not finding it easy at all. You can’t compare traffic of commuters a year ago to what we have now, because there is a reduction in patronage. Our travelling schedules have also been reduced,” he said.Kingsley added: “For Jabi Park here, transport fare to Owerri and Port Harcourt is 35,000 at general park but 40,000 at private park.“Lagos fare is N37,000 at general park but private parks like GOU Transport Company is N41,000, God Is Good is 43,500 and ABC transport is N45,000″.Mr David Terwase, the Manager of Flights Transports Ltd.under Garki branch 2A. Long journey (interstate) observed that the cost and scarcity of petrol had badly affected the transport sector in the country.“I live here in Abuja and the cost of petrol is between N950 to N1100 per litre depending on the filling stations. But, if you get to my state, Benue, the least you can buy a litre of fuel is N1,250.“As a result of this, the fare to convey people from Abuja to Benue is different from what we charge conveying passengers from Benue to Abuja,“ he said.According to him, the company’s fare from Abuja to Makurdi is N12,000 per passenger while the return journey cost about N15,000.“That is what we are facing now, and it has lower the number of people that travel to various places, compared to last year.“People feel that instead of travelling outside their base, they prefer to make use of telephone to reach their loved ones and send money by making use of POS or other electronic transfer methods, not even going to the bank.“Now, people hardly travel with friends, colleagues and even relations for occasions outside Abuja. They prefer to package the money for transportation and give to the celebrator,” he said.Terwase, like other transporters and interstate commuters, appealed to the government to take steps at reducing the cost of petrol, and urgently fast track the deployment of CNG buses to ease the burdens of Nigerians. (NAN)