Against the backdrop of fuel price increase, Association of Mini Buses (Korope) Drivers, on Wednesday embarked on a protest in Osogbo, to denounce recent hike in petrol pump prices, just as they announced jerked up fares across routes in the state capital.

The protesting drivers, who converged on the popular Ayetoro roundabout, said they could no longer maximise profits during their operations, saying the latest hike in fuel prices had worsened economic hardship for Nigerians, informing their resolve to jerk up bus fares.

Spokesperson for the drivers, Abdulwasiu Osuolale, contended that “the fuel price has brought a lot of hardship. The leadership of the transport unions is also not treating drivers well. They don’t care about what we are going through. All they care about is the daily ticket money they collect from us.

“The cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance is too high, and that is why we came out today for this peaceful protest. A drop is now ₦300.”

Another driver, identified as Kamilu Oladipo said the current fares remain unsustainable if they want to survive and cater for their families and fulfill other financial obligations.

Segun Adesola, who was also one of demonstrators, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to take steps aimed at checkmating arbitrary increase in petrol pump prices in the collective interest of Nigerians.

According to the list of new fares obtained by The Guardian, ₦300 flat rate will apply to several short routes. These include Dagbolu 1 & 2 to Kobo, Ota-Efun to Stadium, Ota-Efun to Testing Ground, Testing Ground to Igbona, Oja-Oba to Garage Ilesha, Oja-Oba to Olaiya and Old Garage, Old Garage, Okefia to Dada Estate, Olaiya to Dada Estate, and Ofatedo to Ido-Osun.

For ₦400, passengers will pay from Dagbolu to Ota-Efun, Testing Ground to Old Garage, Testing Ground to Oja-Oba, Biket, Powerline and Jaye to Old Garage, Ayetoro, Igbona and Olorunda to Ota-Efun, Ayetoro to Ogo-Oluwa, Oja-Oba to Owode Garage, Alakija and OSBC to Oja-Oba, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Bolanle/Dele, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Agunbelewo.

The association fixed ₦500 for routes including Ota-Efun to Garage, Old Garage, Ola-Iya to Abere, Testing Ground to Ogo-Oluwa, Dagbolu 1&2 to Stadium and Testing Ground, Sasa to Okebaale to Oja-Oba, Oja-Oba to Osunjela, Igbona, Ayetoro to Dada Estate, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Ofatedo, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Okinni, among others

Routes such as Ayetoro, Igbona to Owode-Ede, Dagbolu 1&2 to Okefia and Old Garage, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Olobu and Ifon will now cost ₦700. Stadium to Owode-Ede was fixed at ₦800, while Ota-Efun to Owode-Ede and Owode-Ede to Bolanle and Dele will cost ₦1,000 each, and Kobo to Owode-Ede, the longest on the list, is now ₦1,200.