Ilorin residents decry rising transport fares despite petrol price drop
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, have expressed frustration over the continuous hike in transportation fares within the metropolis, despite recent reductions in petrol prices.
The price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, has recently dropped to between N930 and N990 per liter in the city. However, transportation fares, particularly for motorcycles and tricycles, have continued to rise without reflecting the reduced cost of petrol.
It is worth noting that transportation fares surged when petrol prices increased last year.
Speaking with a resident, Ms. Rukayat Saheed, she shared that a motorcyclist charged her N300 for a trip from Hajji Camp Junction to Mandate Ultra Modern Market, a fare that should typically range between N100 and N150.
She lamented, “At times, the government introduces positive policies, but fellow Nigerians make life unbearable for one another with actions like this.”
Ms. Saheed, in her late thirties, remarked that in Nigeria, prices of goods and services rarely decrease, even when there are factors that should contribute to a reduction.
She added that all the motorcyclists she stopped were charging the same inflated fare, as though they had all agreed on the price.
She urged transportation union leaders to engage their members and reconsider fare rates to reflect the current price of petrol.
Another passenger, Elizabeth Ajani, supported Ms. Saheed’s concerns, mentioning that she paid N800 for a motorcycle ride from Offa-Garage Roundabout to the Airport.
Ajani appealed to the relevant authorities to address the disparity between transport fares and current petrol prices, as Nigerians expect further reductions in fuel costs in the coming days.
