Business
East/West Road: Drivers Count Losses Over Poor Condition
Drivers plying the East-West Road, particularly the Rumuokoro-Choba axis are beginning to count their losses in their commercial transportation business following the poor state of the road.
The Tide observed that the state of the road had caused many vehicles to be off the road, as some of the vehicles had been either parked at home or lying at the mechanic garage awaiting repairs.
The situation has resulted to the operation of fewer vehicles on the road, which has caused much difficulty to passengers who are at the mercy of drivers, as transport fare is hiked arbitrarily.
Some of the drivers who spoke to The Tide on the matter explained that so much time is being spent on the road traffic hold up as a result of pot holes which result to increased transportation fares.
According to Mr. Udeme Ufot, a driver that plies the route; many drivers no longer meet the daily returns target due to much hold-up on the road, which was occasioned by bad road.
He said most of the drivers had resorted to cutting down the distance of their journey half way, in order to meet the daily target returns, especially those of them that make returns to the owner of the vehicles, adding that at the end, the passengers are made to suffer it by paying higher fares before getting to their destination.
On his part Obilor, popularly known as “Show boy” said he spent much money to maintain his vehicle, which ordinarily he wouldn’t spend, due to bad road caused by pot-holes.
Another driver, whose name was given as Ade Jaria said he had to borrow over N20,000 to put his new vehicle in order, pointing out that things are very difficult with them now, as little revenue is being generated these days; unlike before.
Corlins Walter