- Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers urged to provide palliative measures
From Abel Leonard, Lafia
In the wake of the recent removal of fuel subsidies, Nigerian passengers travelling during the Eid celebrations have voiced their grievances regarding the exorbitant transportation costs and inadequate services they have encountered.
The removal of fuel subsidies has had a significant impact on the transport sector, leaving many vulnerable Nigerians struggling to afford the inflated fares and affecting their ability to celebrate the festive season with loved ones across the country.
When Daily Sun visited the Yahaya Sabo Bus terminal park, Lafia, Muhammad Tanimu, one of the passengers interviewed, shared his anguish while travelling to Minna, Niger State.
Tanimu expressed his concern over the high costs of travel from Lafia to Jos and Minna, emphasising that the removal of fuel subsidies would further hinder others from joining their families for the joyous occasion of Eid.
“Seriously this removal of subsidy has affected our business and life generally, I am travelling today spending all the money on transportation, many will not travel because of the high cost of transportation fare. It is very unfortunate that this is happening now.”
“Before, transport fare to jos was 2000, naira but now it is 4000, and to mina is over 6000. It is really killing us. We have been here for many hours now, passengers are not coming we are just here,” he added.
Joining his sentiments, Decom Gomah and Balkisu Garba appealed to both the government and the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to devise palliative measures to alleviate the hardships faced by vulnerable Nigerians during these trying times.
Similarly, Kamaludeen Salisu, Tasi’u Wanzam Salisu Adamu, and other passengers heading to Bauchi for the Sallah celebration decried the exorbitant transport fares, highlighting their lack of alternatives but to pay the inflated prices and proceed with their journeys.
Passengers travelling to Kano and Kaduna states, Musa Sa’idu, Haruna Abdullahi, Abubakar Abdullahi, and Farida Ibrahim found themselves stranded at the park due to the inadequacy of available vehicles.
“As you can see, no vehicles going to Kano or Bauchi, because people are not travelling the transport fare, is over 11,000 so drivers now choose to go to a nearby state than travel far.
“We are stranded. We intend to travel to go see our family, we are appealing to the government to do something “
Their plight showcases the pressing need for relevant authorities to take prompt action by reducing transportation costs, enabling individuals to embark on their journeys without excessive financial burden.
Responding to these concerns, Alhaji Abubakar Mai Kanti, the Deputy Chairman of the NURTW, acknowledged the challenges faced by the transport business in the face of fuel subsidy removal and the rainy season.
He refuted claims made by some passengers that the union had increased transport fares, emphasizing that the low passenger turnout was a direct result of the prevailing circumstances. Mai Kanti assured the public that the NURTW would continue to prioritize passenger safety and work diligently to protect their rights as they travel during this year’s Sallah celebrations.
Additionally, steps should be taken to ensure the availability of sufficient vehicles to accommodate the high demand during festive periods, mitigating the plight of stranded passengers.
In these difficult times, it is crucial for stakeholders to come together and find sustainable solutions that uphold the welfare of Nigerians, allowing them to celebrate important occasions with their loved ones without undue financial strain or logistical challenges.
In a similar development, Ram dealers in Nasarawa State are facing a decline in patronage while consumers are experiencing a hike in prices as the Eid-el-Kabir celebration draws closer.
According to our correspondent’s investigation of selected ram markets in Lafia, rams are currently being sold at prices ranging from N400,000, N300,000, and N250,000.
Ram sellers at the popular Shinge Cattle market informed our correspondent that the increase in prices is attributed to the high cost of transportation, resulting from the increment in petroleum pump prices.
Alhaji Abubakar, a ram seller, stated that the price hike was due to the high cost of transportation incurred by the dealers. He further explained that the low-profit margin this year compared to the previous year was due to decreased patronage.
Alhaji Jubril Musa expressed his disappointment, stating that the profit margin this year is significantly lower than the previous year. He gave an example, saying that while a ram would have been sold for N150,000 on a normal day, yielding a profit of either N20,000 or N15,000, sellers are now only making N5,000.
The sellers attributed the rise in ram prices to the high cost of transportation fares, charges, and levies. They expressed that they have no choice but to sell at the current rates, even though the profit margin is minimal.
Umaru Abdullahi, another ram seller, linked the high cost of rams to the removal of fuel subsidies, resulting in an increase in pump prices. He pleaded for government assistance, as customers are not patronising their businesses as before, leading to a surplus of animals in stock.
Mr Hassan Mamman, a civil servant, expressed sadness over the high cost of rams and other commodities. He urged the government to address the effects of subsidy removal to alleviate the hardships faced by citizens.
The current situation has caused concerns among consumers who are preparing for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, as they find it increasingly challenging to afford the rising prices of rams.
As the Eid-el-Kabir celebration approaches, it is hoped that the government will take necessary steps to address the concerns of both ram dealers and consumers, ensuring a fair and affordable market for all.