Transport fares double as situation worsens

In usual fashion, Nigerian commuters have begun groaning under the weight of exorbitant transport fares due to the fuel scarcity currently plaguing the country.

Fares in Lagos are said to have doubled as a trip from Ajah to Obalende, which buses usually charge N200 for, now costs between N400-N500.

Motorcycles (Okada) and tricycle riders are not left out either as they now charge N200 for rides which usually cost between N70-N100.

“I’ve spent my transport fare for three days to get to work today,” one commuter, who lives in Ajah and works in Lekki, told Pulse.

“Traffic is also very bad because cars queuing for fuel have blocked half of the road,” he added.

Many car owners have abandoned their vehicles at petrol stations while yet others are waiting on queues despite the unavailability of the product.

Fuel marketers had earlier warned the Federal Government that petrol would become scarce if the N256.2bn subsidy debt owed them was not paid.

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has however assured Nigerians that the situation would ease soon as the government had concluded plans to pay N156bn out of the debt to the marketers on Thursday, April 30, 2015.

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