Fuel scarcity: Kaduna travellers groan over transport fare hikes

As fuel scarcity persists, travellers are groaning over the unending hike in transport fares in Kaduna State.

They lamented what they described as “minute-to-minute” hike in transport fares due to fuel scarcity, a situation that forces many to return home because of the inability to afford the skyrocketing fares.

In various garages―television, Sabon-Tasha, Kawo, Magajin Gari―as observed, some intending travellers, who were not aware of the new sudden transport fare increase, turned back, while others, begging for a reduction in the fare, loitered around the transport union.

Transport fare from Kaduna to Zaria as of Friday, was N2,000 Naira, while on Saturday, it increased by 25% to N2,500. In the same vein, the transport fare to Kogi was N5, 000 as of Friday, but it increased to N5, 500 on Saturday, while transport fare to Kafachan is now N3, 500. A transport union leader at Television garage, Alhaji Yusufu Musa, blamed the sudden increase on the scarcity of petroleum products.

Mr Moses Danjuma, an intending traveller who turned back due to the slight increase in the fare, said his money was short of N500.

According to him, several other passengers have turned back due to the same reason of the steep hike in the fare.

At Kawo motor park, travellers were stranded, because the cost of transportation has risen beyond expectations.

A woman who identified as Hajia Maryam Abubakar said she arrived at the park at 8 am, but couldn’t find a vehicle.

According to her, the transport union officer told her to wait as many vehicles were queued for fuel at filling stations.

“I waited for four hours, at the end of which I turned back home,” she lamented.