Bauchi residents resort to trekking amidst increase in transportation fares
Residents of Bauchi State have decried high increase in transportation fares as a result of fuel scarcity in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) spoke to some of the residents who said the trend had exposed them to difficulties.
A check at motor parks in the metropolis showed that transport fare had shot up by about 30 per cent in the past four weeks, according to NAN.
Commercial vehicle operators are now charging N1,500 from Bauchi – Gombe as against N1,000, while passengers travelling from Bauchi -Yola now pay N4,500 as against N3,500.
Lamenting the situation, a resident identified as Sale Mohammed said the hike in transport fare has affected movement of goods and services and crippled business.
He said that most residents in the area resorted to trekking or cancelled their trips as they could not afford exorbitant fare.
Reacting, Abdullahi Mohammed, Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Bauchi State Chapter, attributed the hike in transport fare to fuel scarcity and high cost of spare parts.
He said the available fuel servicing stations in the area dispensed petrol between N285 and N350 per litre.
“The rural areas are worse hit, especially the hinterland communities as the product sold between N300 and N400 per liter,’’ he said.
The Chairman appealed to fuel marketers to consider the plight of the masses while fixing petrol prices to enhance transportation services.
