Yobe tricycle riders lament untold suffering due to subsidy removal
Story from Kasim Isa MUHAMMAD
Tricycle operators in Potiskum have expressed concerns over the lack of substantial profits following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy.
According to them, prior to the removal, they were able to generate significant earnings. However, their profits are now being swallowed up by the high cost of purchasing fuel.
Muhammad Dahiru Uzairu, an experienced tricycle rider for the past five years, lamented the current state of the business. He highlighted that the challenges he is facing are unlike anything he has experienced before, while mentioning that people are reluctant to patronise them due to the exorbitant prices caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.
READ ALSO: The exponential rise in public transportation fares after subsidy removal
He said, “In the past, I could earn around N8,000 to N10,000 and take it home. However, the situation has drastically changed. Even if we receive a high volume of patronage, the entire income is spent on purchasing fuel. Furthermore, the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed, causing immense hardship for everyone.”
Similarly, Neptune Prime had a conversation with Abubakar Muhammad, another tricycle rider in Potiskum, he revealed that they are also subjected to unlawful extortion by the Road Safety Services, exacerbating their already challenging circumstances.
“We are truly enduring suffering. If I had an alternative, I would immediately abandon this business. Previously, we only had to spend N2,400 on fuel per day, but now we are compelled to buy fuel for N6,000 daily. There are even days when it’s difficult to earn more than N8,000.
Additionally, a concerning issue is the increase in the yearly charges imposed by the Yobe State Road Traffic Management Agency (YOROTA). It was only N2,500, but now they are charging us a whopping N9,500,” Abubakar decried.
During Neptune Prime’s discussions with various tricycle riders, a common worry emerged among them. They unanimously emphasized that the removal of the fuel subsidy had inflicted a tremendous impact on their livelihoods. Several riders also mentioned that feeding their families has become an additional challenge amidst the current circumstances.
They concluded by calling upon the government at all levels to address the hardships faced by citizens and urging the authorities to provide lasting solutions to the myriad problems affecting the country. They hope that such actions will alleviate the burdens faced by the people.
It should be recalled that on Monday, May 29, President Bola Tinubu announced during his inaugural speech the removal of the petrol subsidy.
“Fuel subsidy is gone. The subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources,” he said.
Since the declaration, traveling to and from places has become a challenging task for numerous Nigerians. The costs of transportation, whether through public vehicles or ride-hailing applications, have doubled, while the availability of buses has decreased.
Consequently, people now spend more time waiting in long lines at petrol stations in search of fuel.
According to a source cited by Neptune Prime, fuel prices have reached an all-time high in Damaturu, standing at N577 per litre.
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