By Moses Kolo
FOLLOWING the recent hike in the price of petrol, transportation fares within Kaduna metropolis have gone up astronomically, a situation the residents lamented has made commuting too difficult.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NNPC Ltd Retail Management approved the upward review of PMS pump price from N617 per litre to N897 per litre effective from Sept. 3.
A check conducted by NAN on Wednesday in Kaduna revealed that the cost of transportation for a commercial tricycle (Keke) from the central market to Sabo was now N500 as against N300 before.
Also, from the same market to Barnawa and Nararyi settlements now attracts N400 as against N250.
Others include; Gonin Gora to Kasuwa- N500 as against N300, Kakuri to Kasuwa- N400 from previous N300 and Kasuwa to Kawo now attracts N300 from the previous N200.
Some of the residents, who spoke to NAN in separate interviews further decried that the same development applied to commercial motorcycle operators who now charge double for a drop within the neighborhoods.
Malam Abubakar Sa’idu, a commercial tricycle operator said the current fares were likely to be increased in the coming days.
He said it was difficult to join the queues at the NNPC stations, saying, “this is because it could take one almost half of the day before getting fuel. As such, we now buy from the black markers for a whopping sum of N1,400 per liter.
“The passengers do not blame us because everyone knows the situation we have found ourselves in Nigeria. We hardly make meaningful turnover as commuting has drastically dropped because people don’t go out anywhere except when it becomes necessary.”
Mr Dajuma Musa, a commercial motorcycle operator, on his part said the hike became inevitable if they must make ends meet considering the high cost of petrol.
“Most times lately, I prefer to be stationed at strategic junctions and not roaming around like I used to do before scouting for passengers,” Musa said.
Mrs Abigail Adams, a resident of Barnawa, lamented how the cost of transportation was affecting her resumption to work.
“With the meager salary I earn, I now spend at least N1,200 daily to and from work and I wonder how one can sustain having to spend this much on transportation.
“I urge the government to consider the plight of the citizenry by reverting the pump price and also fast-track he payment of the new national minimum wage,” she said.
Mr Haruna Dauda, a resident of Ungwan Romi, on his part expressed worry on how most of the parents would cope when their wards resume school in the coming week.
“This situation is so pathetic and may get worse when our children resume school.
“Imagine the parents that have three to four children that have to go to school every day, not to mention other costs like feeding and school fees,” Dauda said. (NAN)
