…As Transport Fares Rise By 200% In Enugu

Barely 24 hours after the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government, transport fares in Enugu have jumped 200 per cent higher.

Our correspondent who monitored the situation in the coal city on Monday reports that intra-city bus fares increased from N40 per drop to N150.

Taxis charged N200 per drop as against N100 while special drops within the coal city rose from N500 to N2000 depending on the location.

Commercial motorcyclists popularly called okada were not left out as they charged between N80 and N150 for short distances as against between N30 and N50.

Meanwhile, the few filling stations that opened for business witnessed long queues while many were closed.

The filling stations that were open sold petrol at N150 per litre while the NNPC filling stations in the state were all closed.

The filling stations that opened for business included NIPCO on Chime Avenue, Bontus Oil on Presidential road, MRS Oil on Abakaliki road, Juhel Filling Station at Trans-Ekulu, and Pipeline Oil on Nike Rd, Abakpa.

Some of the buyers who spoke with newsmen expressed shock at the development and wondered how the people would cope with the situation.

Mr Donald Ikem, a civil servant, said he expected the subsidy to be removed around April based on government’s previous pronouncements.

“I am shocked that the president announced the removal in January as against the April promised. This is very bad and I wonder how civil servants will cope,“ he said.

Ikem appealed to the president to introduce a cushioning effect to enable the citizenry to cope with the development.

Mrs Angela Mba, a housewife, wondered how she would cope with school run as she had spent her money during the yuletide.

“How are we going to survive this January? This is not fair,“ she lamented.