FEAR over the effect of Premium
Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise
known as petrol subsidy removal
by the Federal Government, on
cost of transport fares yesterday
forced most commuters to Abuja
metropolis to stay at home.
Besides, Nigerian Pilot checks
also revealed reduction of
vehicular traffic on major roads
in the city as motorists were
either at stations scrambling to
buy petrol or stayed at home for
lack of fuel.
A visit to major bus stops in
and around the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT, revealed 50 to 100
per cent hike in fares.
For instance, from the popular
Wuse Market Bus Stop to Federal
Secretariat in Central Area
which prior to the government’s
removal of subsidy, on
Wednesday evening, costs N100,
as at the time of filling this report
rose to N150, and same goes for a
shuttle from Galadimawa to the
ever busy Area One bus stop.
At about 4pm yesterday when
Nigerian Pilot visited Mabushi
Bus Stop, a popular entering
point for commuters to the city
from Suleja satellite town in
Niger State and Kubwa axis in
the FCT, taxi fare to Wuse market
was still stable at N50.
In contrast, passengers from
Suleja were charged N250/N300
against N200, Kubwa NNPC
junction to the metropolis now
costs N200 against N100.
The prevailing price hike was
also felt by workers and business
people entering the nation’s
capital city from satellite towns
in neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Passengers commuting
to Abuja from Mararaba/
Ado areas in the state now
pay N200 against N150 to
Federal Secretariat or Berger
Junction, while people from
FHA Junction to Wuse/Berger
Junction also pay N150 instead
of N100.
However, intra city taxi fares
along Wuse/GSM Village
down to Areas 10 down to Area
One remained unchanged at
the usual N100.
A cross section of transport
operators along the routes
who fielded questions from
Nigerian Pilot expressed mixed
feelings.
One of them, a female Nissan
Almera taxi driver in a chat
described the subsidy removal
as a “shock” that negatively
affected their business.
Another respondent who
simply described himself
as Mr. Johnson said “we are
compelled to increase our
charges,” lamenting, “I will also
have to pay more in other areas
as the situation is going to force
hike in price of commodities in
the Nigerian …Read More
Source:: Nigerian Pilot
