Commuters decline to travel as fares increase by 50%

… as petrol sells for N140 in Southwest states

Scarcity and unreasonable increase in the price of fuel forced many commuters and revellers to stay at homes and celebrated Christmas and Boxing Day in low-key in major cities across Southwest states of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and even Kwara state as litre of premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol sold between N120 and N140 in all the states mentioned.

Transport fares in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-ode, Ibadan, ‎Ogbomoso, Oyo, Iseyin, Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Akure, Owo, Ado-Ekiti and Ilorin were increased between 50 – 80 percent and human and vehicular traffic was lighter in places like Ado-Ekiti, Ondo, Akure, Ile-Ife, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Iseyin as commuters declined to travel for Yuletide, but movement of people and vehicles was relatively thick in Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Ado-Odo/Ota, Sagamu.

‎Unlike working days, human and vehicular traffic in many Southwest states was usually light and some sections of some motor parks ‎were either deserted or had few commercial vehicles on stands; many motorists had gone out there to fuel their vehicles amid a very little supply of petrol to some filling stations and largely refusal of many petrol stations to sell the product to motorists.

In Ogun state, major cities like Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode,‎ Ado-Odo/Ota, Ifo, Ibafo, among others, some petrol stations opened for business and sold the product between N130 and N140. This forced a sudden increase in the prices of essential goods and services, though many people still patronised these goods and services since the State government had paid December wages and salaries for all categories of workers under its employ at the State and Local government levels.

Also, electricity supply was relatively stable in main cities compared to what it was used to be and this saved many people cost of buying petrol, just as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as other security agencies provided water-tight security especially in Abeokuta, the State capital, mounting check points at entrances to major cities and engaging in a show of force across the state.

Ademola Orunbo, a civil servant who spoke with our correspondent in Abeokuta confirmed that the paid December salaries to workers in the State before Christmas helped lessened the negative effects that the increased price of fuel would have had on the people and socio-economic situation, he however, declared that majority of those workers that had their salaries before Christmas would have finished the money even before New Year celebration since cost of living was too high during the celebration.

In Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara states, socio-economic situation was worse as‎ the various State governments did not pay workers’ salaries for months and all workers celebrated Christmas and Boxing Day low-keyed, though electricity supply was relatively stable and adequte security of lives and property was provided by combined security agents, including Police, NSCDC, SSS and Federal Roads Safety Corps was visible in every part of the states mentioned controlling traffic and ensuring free flow of vehicles in and out of the major cities.

Akeem Adelawon, a civil servant in Osun state, told our correspondent that he was unable to buy even foodstuffs and chicken for Christmas the way he used to do for his family, saying: “It is very had for me to buy foodstuffs and chicken ‎for my family, let alone travelling to celebrate Christmas with my parents at our village in Ilesa. We couldn’t go for picnic at any amusement parks or tourist attraction centres like I used to do with my family. We just stay at home this year.”

 

RAZAQ AYINLA