S’South residents still groan despite FG’s transport price palliative

Commercial drivers have maintain high transport fares despite the move by the Federal Government to cut down petrol prices through the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited fuel stations.

Residents have continued to bear the brunt of the transport increase, which had translated into high costs of food items and other goods.

Recall that the Federal Government had announced fuel discount initiative of N1,350 per litre, but residents states in the South-South said they had yet to seen any impact of the initiative.

Tega, a technician, who lives at Iyekogba along Irhihi Road in Benin City, said transport fare had not reduced, adding that taking a bus from his place to Ring Road cost between N400 to N500 as against N300 in the past.

“What I paid in October 1 for transport from my house to Ring Road is still the same that I am paying. I can only hope that the fare will come down as it is taking its toll on my pocket.”

A business woman, who gave her name as Grace and sells cosmetics on the popular Lagos Street at Ring Road, said the fare had not gone and she has had to pay more to bring her goods to Benin from Lagos in recent times.

She noted that transport fares had remained high Edo State, lamenting that transport fares might not reduce.

“I didn’t even know that the government promised transport fare reduction from October 1. But there is no reduction in transport fare presently. It cost more to bring my goods from Lagos to Benin.”

Speaking to PUNCH, George Idaho, a driver who runs the Ring Road- Irhihi route said most drivers didn’t go to NNPC fuel stations because fuel was cheaper at other fuel stations.

Also in Asaba, Delta State, drivers maintained high transport fares despite the Federal Government’s fuel discount initiative.

A visit to the NNPC station opposite Asaba Airport showed that petrol was selling for N1,379 per litre, while customers who used the station’s mobile application could access a discounted price of N1,313 per litre.

However, many commercial drivers said they were unaware of the mobile application, while some said it was difficult to access

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A taxi driver who did not speak on record added, “How much is the discount? Did they reduce it to N800? I’ve heard, but that discount did not reflect anything to reduced transport prices.”

A commercial bus driver, who said he bought petrol for N1,390 per litre at another filling station, said, “I am still buying from the place I normally buy fuel because I do not see any difference.

A tricycle operator also said fares remained unchanged because the cost and time involved in going to NNPC stations outweighed the savings.

The effect is consequently being felt by residents. A fruit trader selling along the Asaba-Benin Expressway said transport fares had not dropped since the discount was announced on October 1. “The price of transport fare is still the same thing; nothing has reduced. I still pay the same amount,” the trader said.

Our findings suggest that the discount has yet to translate into lower transport fares for the commuters interviewed in Asaba. The increase in petrol prices and the practical challenges of accessing discount fuel have left motorists and passengers questioning its impact on their daily expenses.

The story remained the same in Rivers State. For instance, the NNPC Mega Filling Station at Lagos Bus Stop, Port Harrcourt, the biggest in Rivers State, is selling petrol for N1,355.

However, the NNPC Petrol Station at the Eastern By-Pass in Ogunabali in Port Harrcourt sold petrol for N1,395. Drivers plying the Lagos Bus Stop and Borikiri routes refused to reduce transport fares.

A driver, who identify himself simply as Daso, said, “Transport fare reduction is not possible for now; even the one that the government promised us we have not seen. Fake promise is what they made.”

Similarly, a tricycle driver, Haruna ont the Trans-Amadi Slaughter route said, “I buy petrol N1400; and the cheapest is N1,390. And you are talking about cheap transport fares.”

A trader, madam Choice, who sells banana and yam said she travels to Ogoniland to buy the items, adding that there had been no reduction in transport fares.

“Nothing has changed. From my house in Elekahia to Trailer Park in Eleme is N1,100. Then from there (Trailer Park in Eleme) to Gokana (Ogoni) is N1,200. Then I pay more when coming back because of my load. For loads, drivers collect between N800 and N1000,” she added.