I am calling on the Rivers State Government to bring down the transport fares for commuters within the Woji and Trans-Amadi areas of the Port Harcourt metropolis. The failure of the government to include these areas when the transport fares were fixed after the fuel subsidy /fare increase has generated untold hardship on commuters because of commercial drivers’ arbitrary increase in the fares within these areas.
The Rivers State Government reverted the fares from the 100% increase to the previous N50.00 per drop. This reversion mainly affected the densely populated areas in the Port 1-larcourt metropolis. Buses which ply from Mile 1 Diobu to Lagos Bus Stop now charge N50.00. The same N50.O0 fare is charged by buses and taxis for the Lagos Bus Stop I Aggrey Road to the end of Borikiri.
It is sad to know that the taxis and buses which ply from the Artillery Junction to the Slaughter and from the Slaughter to Garrison Junction have continued to maintain their arbitrarily fixed fares. The taxis which previously charged N50 per drop now charge N100 and the buses charge [170.00 for any distance.
An additional problem which the commuters on the buses are faced with is that of getting the balance from the drivers. The result is that most times the commuters end up paying the N100 fare on a spurious excuse of “no change”.
There is an urgent need for the Rivers State Government to bring down these fares to the uniform rate of 150 for every drop or both the taxis and buses which ply between the Artillery Junction and the Garrison Junction.
This action will save the commuters who live within these areas from the extortion of the commercial drivers who operate within these areas.
BARR. IBIENEBO G. FINGES
