Passengers Seek Government Intervention In Cost Of Fuel, Transport Charges

Passengers in various parts of the country are seeking the intervention of the federal government following its decision on the removal of fuel subsidy which necessitated the adjustment in the pump price of fuel, and possibly the reason for the skyrocketed charges on commercial transportation in various states.

Recall that President Tinubu in his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, declared that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime as it was not sustainable.

Following his declaration on the removal of fuel subsidy, findings obtained by AN24TV from passengers and commuters in Lagos revealed that the cost of transportation has increased by 100 percent in most cases and 50 percent in a few cases depending on the distance.

While some commended the president on the removal of fuel subsidy, others who spoke with AN24TV lamented the amount spent on a daily basis to their various destinations as a result of the adjustment in the pump price of fuel.

A passenger who spoke anonymously with AN24TV in Ogba stated, “For me, the removal of fuel subsidy by president Tinubu has put so many people in hardship. I expected the president to have said no more exporting of our crude oil for refining abroad instead of saying ‘subsidy was gone’. The only solution to the skyrocketing charges on commercial transportation in various states is to make the refineries in our country begin to work”.

Mr Agada Akoh Agada said “The cost of transportation is very high in many places, like in Lagos from mainland to Island it is double the price. Tinubu’s presidency so far as far as policy initiations are concerned, he is making moves that appear to turn around the situation of things.

“However, the impact on the citizens is very high but I am hopeful that the president will come up with measures to solve the problems of the citizens because some of them have no substitutes and the cost of living is high. The increase in cost of transportation is very high now.

“In fairness to him, it is too early to start judging the president following the removal of fuel subsidy and his policy, he just assumed his position and he has to make some of these moves in order to change the situation of things.”

A passenger identified as Blessing also stated that the cost of moving from his place of residence to Alausa has now increased drastically unlike what she used to spend before the adjustment in the pump price of fuel.

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She said, “Before now, from my house to Alausa which is my work place, I used to spend N700-N750 but since the adjustment in the pump price of fuel, I have been spending N1,500 and most times there will be no bus, infact traffic situation is not favorable so I have no choice but to trek back home from office.”

A student who spoke anonymously with AN24TV said ” I used to board a bus from my school to Ikorodu garage at the rate of N300 but now the amount is N500. The money I had with me was not enough but I had no choice but to go and withdraw more money in order to get back home. The hike in transport fares sometimes discourages me from coming home.”

Some of the passengers also suggested practical steps to solving the challenges emanating from the removal of fuel subsidy which includes putting in place functional refineries across the major six geo-political zones.

The passengers pleaded with the federal government to take drastic action in solving the challenges they are facing.