Commercial transporters in Kaduna State have lamented the downturn in their businesses and blamed the situation on increased cost of transport fare resulting from hike in petrol pump price.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna revealed a decline of passengers at the motor parks visited within Kaduna metropolis.
Some of the transporters and passengers told NAN that as the Eid-el-Kabir festivity approached, motor parks were expected to be a beehive of activities, adding that the reverse was the case presently.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, had declared June 28 as Eid-el-Kabir festivity.
The transporters attributed the development to the effect of removal of fuel subsidy which led to increased cost of premium motor spirit (PMS), adding that most people might eventually observe a low-key celebration due to the economic crunch.
David Turaki, a driver at Abuja Park along Command junction, told NAN that Kaduna to Abuja cost N4, 000 as against N2, 500.
“The usual rush one would expect especially around this season has drastically dropped. It takes time before the vehicles get filled and our number of daily trips has equally reduced,” he said.
At Sabo park, Musa Alkali, also a driver,said Kaduna to Kafanchan and Jos now fetched N4,000 and N6,000 as against N3,000 and N5,000 respectively.
“Sometimes I take off even if the vehicle is not filled, with the hope that I will get passengers along the way.
“Also, we make additional income from waybills as most people prefer to spend less and have their messages delivered than having to travel themselves,” he explained.
Jamilu Idris, driver at Kawo Park, disclosed that Kaduna to Zaria had been pegged at N1, 500 as against N700, while Kaduna to Kano now cost N5, 500 as against N4, 000.
Abubakar Jibril, also a driver at Kawo park, disclosed that Kaduna to Sokoto now cost N8, 000 as against N4, 500 previously, while Kaduna to Katsina was now N9,000 as against N4, 500.
Mr Addo Bisallah, a civil servant and a passenger at Kawo Park, said he usually travelled from Zaria to Kaduna daily but now stayed till the weekend.
“Except it becomes necessary, one should cut down on unnecessary trips,” he said.
Nasidi Garba, an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the park, said that the union had already initiated move to fast track government’s intervention on the challenge.
He expressed optimism that with the Eid-el-Kabir, patronage at the parks would improve as most people would still travel no matter the cost.
