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yuletide: nigerians shelve travel plans over soaring fares, insecurity

Yuletide: Nigerians shelve travel plans over soaring fares, insecurity

Yuletide: Nigerians shelve travel plans over soaring fares, insecurity插图

As the yuletide season approaches, Nigerians in different parts of the country have expressed fear and worry over the possibility of travelling to their ancestral homes in the South-East, South-West, and northern regions due to the rising cost of transport fares and worsening insecurity.

Last year, the Federal Government slashed interstate road transport fares by 50 per cent and approved free rides for commuters on all train services during the Yuletide.

The transportation subsidy, which took effect from December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024, benefitted no fewer than 112,000 passengers, according to the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria.

Rising transport costs

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, as of December 2023, the average price of fuel stood at N671 per litre—225.85 per cent higher than the N206.19 price in 2022.

By Thursday afternoon, fuel prices had risen to between N1,025 and N1,045 per litre at various filling stations in Lagos.

Consequently, transport fares to the South-East, South-South, and northern states skyrocketed.

A visit to some major motor parks in Lagos and a review of the websites of some interstate transport companies revealed that transport costs from Lagos had nearly doubled compared to last year.

A trip from Lagos to Benin, which cost between N6,000 and N12,000 earlier last December, now costs between N15,000 and N21,000, depending on the transport company and bus quality.

Similarly, a trip from Lagos to Enugu, which cost about N19,000 in 2023, now costs N41,500, according to the God Is Good Motors website.

Transport companies like GIGM, Peace Mass Transit, and Young Shall Grow now charge between N22,000 and N50,500 per person for trips from Lagos to Owerri, Aba, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.

Last December, these fares ranged from N17,000 to N20,000.

Even within the South-West, fares have risen significantly as a trip from Lagos to Ibadan, Ilorin, or Osogbo, which cost between N1,500 and N4,500 last year, now goes for between N3,000 (Ibadan) to N7,500 (Osogbo and Ilorin), depending on the bus.

Lagos travellers worry

Many Nigerians in different states of the federation expressed concern about the hike in transport fares.

They also expressed fear about rising insecurity in the eastern and northern regions—both hotbeds of banditry, kidnappings, and killings.

Just last week, gunmen suspected to be enforcing the illegal sit-at-home order invaded two communities in Anambra State, killing at least four people.

Earlier, about 10 people were murdered in Nibo community, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

In Benue State, at least 30 people were reportedly killed and several injured when armed gangs attacked farmers and local communities in Katsina-Ala LGA of the state last week Monday.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of Nsu Development Union, one of the Ndigbo associations in Lagos State, Mr Blessing Nwokejiegbe, said it was customary for all Igbos in the state to travel home during the yuletide, adding that the prevailing hike in fuel price and deepening insecurity had been of serious concern to them.

“It is our tradition. When it comes to this particular period, we always want to converge on our villages and have Christmas fun. But everybody is skeptical about the security concerns and high cost of fares. As I speak to you now, from Lagos to Owerri is about N45,000. Mind you, Owerri is not a village. It will take me another N15,000 to get home from there. But that is not even the real thing.

“The problem is that I have called people in the village and they said there is peace. But how do you travel to get to the village? Is it not by road? We don’t know when these bad boys can stage their ambush. That is why everybody is prayerful now,” he stated.

Speaking further, Nwokejiegbe said, “There are events ahead. You know, many people are dying. And for a lot of them that have died, we are moving them to the East. So, that (yuletide) period is when we bury as many as we can. Many people that died have not been buried.

“For some of them that we hurriedly buried, there is something we call burial rites. It hasn’t been done for them. So, many events are supposed to take place. But people are very careful.”

A trader at the Ile Epo Market, Lagos, Muhammed Isa, said although he had planned to travel during the yuletide to see his wife and children in the north, the hike in transport fares and fear of being attacked might make him change his mind.

“I planned to travel probably next week because I haven’t seen my family since the beginning of this year. But as it stands now, I may likely not go because of the high cost of transportation.

“Last year, it was around N14,000 to N19,000 from Lagos to Kano State by bus. But as we speak, it is between N25,000 and N40,000. Imagine the rise. Mind you, there is also fear because these days, we hear of different attacks and killings in the north. I just want to be careful,” he added.

Also, the Chairman of Umuezeala Nsu Development Union, an association of some Imo State residents in the state, Henry Chukwuyere, admitted that the hike in the cost of transport was key, but said he would still travel.

“It is our tradition; so, we will. Here in Lagos, some people have said they won’t travel, perhaps because of the increase in fares. But once we approach December 21st, I am sure Lagos will be empty.

“How people will get money for this, I don’t know. In fact, I don’t even know how I will get the money for the trip, but it is a must we go because we have some occasions lined up for the end of the year, which we see as a period for our vacation,” he added.

Another member of the Igbo community in the state, Mr Uzoma Korie, said even though he had decided to travel, the high cost of transportation was giving him serious concern about whether to go with his family or not.

Ahead of the yuletide, residents in Abia State said unless the economy improved, they might consider staying put in their places of residence.

Currently, the cost of transportation in the state has astronomically risen more than expected.

As of this time last year, a journey that cost N800 now takes N2,000.

Also, the intracity shuttle that cost about N150 before is now between N250 and N350.

A transport worker in Umuahia, who asked not to be identified, said, “All these price adjustments were as a result of the cost of fuel that has affected virtually everything in the state. You cannot buy fuel at an exorbitant price without adjusting the cost of transport to make up for your expenses.”

A businessman from Anambra, John Iheonu, said, “Count me out of going home with my family of five this Xmas. I may go home to my Ozubulu community to see some people shortly before that period. But to take the entire family home, I cannot do that. Where is the money? I can’t afford to take them home except the transport cost miraculously improves.”

Kwara, Gombe residents decry hike

Meanwhile, intending travellers in Kwara State have also expressed worry over the high cost of transport, saying it may prevent some businessmen from the South-East and South-South regions of the state from travelling to their towns and villages for Christmas and New Year festivities.

Sunday PUNCH observed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that transport fares had gone up by almost 400 per cent.

Checks at motor parks in the state capital revealed that transport cost from Ilorin to Onitsha, which was formerly N10,000 before the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration, has jumped to N34,000, while transport fares to Port Harcourt had increased from N8,000 to N32,000 per passenger.

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Our correspondents gathered that from Ilorin to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, has jumped from N14,000 to N44,000 per person.

The Chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association in the state, Alhaji Olayinka Onikijipa, said the increase in the transport fare was as a result of bad roads and high cost of fuel.

Onikijipa said the cost of transportation might go higher by about 50 per cent during the yuletide.

An Igbo septuagenarian, Chief Ephraim Emeka, who said he had been travelling yearly in the last 50 years to celebrate Christmas in his community in Ebonyi State, said he would not be able to make the journey this year because of the high cost of transportation and low business returns.

In Gombe, residents from Igbo and Yoruba communities in the state have also lamented the high cost of transportation, which may force them to cancel their travel plans for the yuletide celebrations.

A trader, Nnamdi Kalu, said, “I’ve been travelling home to Enugu for Christmas every year. But this year, the transport fares are unbearable. I’m still undecided if I’ll make the trip.”

A student, Cynthia Okpara, shared a similar sentiment.

“I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my family in Lagos, but the cost of transportation is too high. I may have to spend the holiday in Gombe,” he stated.

A civil servant, Seun Opeyemi, blamed the hike in transport costs on fuel price increase and poor road conditions.

He said, “It’s frustrating. We’re struggling to make ends meet, and now we can’t even afford to travel for Christmas.”

Sokoto, Adamawa residents may stay home

Some residents of Sokoto State also revealed their intentions to shelve travel plans during the yuletide.

Findings by our correspondent in the state revealed that most of the people who usually travelled to their villages across the country had resolved to stay back in Sokoto this year.

A native of Akure in Ondo State, Mr Johnson Oguntade, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, said he had made up his mind to celebrate this year Christmas alongside his family in Sokoto.

“I have looked into it and realised I can’t make it home this year. The transport fare is not a joke at all. If you are to fuel a car now, it costs nothing less than N80,000 and how much more will I buy to take me home.

“The fare from Sokoto to Ibadan here alone is about N30,000 per person. It is not a child’s play my brother.”

Also speaking, Mrs Cecelia Jonathan, from Delta State, said she had decided not to stress herself with any Christmas trip this year, adding that the problem was beyond transport fare but also cost of living, among others.

Meanwhile, transporters in Adamawa State may record low patronage during the 2024 festivals due to the hike in transport fares, the state branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has said.

While speaking to our correspondent on Friday in Yola, the Publicity Secretary, Ayuba Danladi, said the increased in transport fares due to fuel price increased by government might force many people to celebrate the festivals outside their ancestral homes.

“From Yola to Jalingo is now N7,000; before now, it was N4,000. Yola to Gombe is now N8,000, but it used to be N5,000. Yola to the East, the lowest fare is N65,000, so how many people can afford this with their family members?” he queried.

Borno families await subsidy

However, intending travellers in Borno State said due to the current transportation cost, they were awaiting subsidy from the state government to finalise their travel decisions.

The residents, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday in Maiduguri, said they were optimistic that the government would assist them since they benefitted from the same initiative last year.

A resident, Favour Chukwuma, said her family had decided not to go on any festive journey without government support.

“As of last year, Governor (Babagana) Zulum assisted those of us from the South-East with our travel expenses, going and coming with that long Borno Express bus. It helped us because from here (Borno) to Owerri and back, you won’t spend less than N100,000 on transport, and that is for one person.”

Similarly, Olaniyi Abey, an indigene of Ondo state residing in Maiduguri, said the cost of transportation had made him lose interest in travelling.

When contacted, an official of the Borno Express Transport Services, who did not want to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said he could not tell if such incentives (transport subsidy) would be given this year.

“I am not the right person to speak on this, but just know that our activities are based on orders. As such, we await the decision of the state government,” he stated.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to ensure Internal and highway security in Borno state, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said the police were ready to ensure the safety of people and property before, during, and after the festivities.

FG reveals discount plan

Speaking on the possibility of transport fares discount by the Federal Government, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Transport, Olujimi Oyetomi, told Sunday PUNCH that the President Bola Tinubu administration had planned the same initiative for the upcoming festivities.

Oyetomi explained that a committee had been formed, adding that the plan for the Federal Government’s transport subsidy was submitted on Thursday.

“The government is planning to do the same thing this year. We would be covering designated routes. The committee on its implementation submitted its report on Thursday.  We had a deadline of submission to the minister and it has been done,” the director said.

He noted that the committee had recommended the use of cowry cards to facilitate faster payments and easy documentation.

“The minister will look at the report and decide if we are going to be using the cowry card method of payment as opposed to the one where people just pay. It will still be a Lagos-Abuja type of journey and discount.

“For this one, individuals would have to load the amount charged on a card and then pay at the designated centres to board. We are still working on it, and more details will be revealed very soon,” he added.

Transport companies lament

Meanwhile, several transport companies have expressed concern that the ongoing fuel price hike will severely impact their businesses.

The Manager of Libra Motors Park at Iyana Ipaja, Mr Maxwell Ehijene, told Sunday PUNCH that there had been a significant decline in the number of travellers since the fuel price increase and there were no signs that the downward trend would reverse.

A Supervisor at G.Agofure Motor Park in the Iyana Ipaja area, Mr Christopher Aburuma, also corroborated this, pointing out that the reduction in patronage could persist through Christmas, much to the frustration of transport companies.

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