Yuletide: Commuters groan over gridlocks, high fares in South East

Some Commuters have groaned over gridlocks on various expressways caused by multiple checkpoints and roadblocks by security agencies and tax agents within the South East geopolitical zone.

The commuters, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, blamed the high cost of transportation to the roadblocks and the extortions by the security agencies and the tax agents.

Mr David Uzonna, a regular commuter, who is based in Awka, said road blocks were a major challenge they faced in their daily operations.

He said there was a total of 19 roadblocks between Awka and Enugu, a journey of less than 100 kilometres.

“The extortion that goes on at the road blocks and delays was partly responsible for the increase in transport fares.

“An 18 seater bus that used to cost N3,000 was now between N4,000 and N4,500, while Sienna vehicle that used to cost N5,000 and N6,000 per trip, now cost N7,000,” he said.

Uzonna said the condition of the road was better but what would have been gained was lost to gridlock caused by the security checkpoints.

He urged the south east governors to intervene and reduce the number of checkpoints within the region to hasten movement and also boost economic activities.

Mrs Ifeoma Agueze, an Europe-based Nigerian, who returned to spend the Christmas with her family members, said she spent almost 10 hours by road from Abuja to Enugu due to numerous checkpoints and bad roads.

“Traveling in Nigeria either by road or by air is chaotic and frustrating. I left Abuja with a Sienna by 7am, we met some checkpoints from Nasarawa but on getting to Otukpa, the roadblocks increased in number till we got to Enugu by 7.30pm.

“In fact, I lost count of the checkpoints mounted by different groups including the soldiers, police, Road Safety, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), and the agriculture produce team. This is a journey that is supposed to be for six hours.

“They would not only stop and search vehicles but would also demand for money forcefully from drivers and if you fail to play ball, they would delay you for hours,” she said.

It is a similar situation on Enugu- Onitsha expressway, Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, Enugu-Okigwe-Owerri Road where passengers are sometimes asked to come down from the vehicle and walk past the checkpoints before joining their vehicles.

Some commercial drivers who narrated their experiences, said they spend between N2,000 and N100,000 depending on the route and the vehicle.

Mr Dominic Nwuda, a commercial driver that ply between Enugu and Port Harcourt, said he spent between N3,000 and N5,000 to settle the police and soldiers on the road.

According to him, that is why we increase our fares to cover such expenses. If you do not comply, they will ask you to offload the luggage in your vehicle and seize your vehicle documents until you give them money.

A truck driver, simply called Ahmed, who conveys foodstuffs from Adamawa to the East, said their major obstacle was the Agric produce team especially from Obollo Afor in Enugu State to Abia and Rivers states.

“They collect as much as N10,000 at every stop after checking the foodstuffs and livestock of every truck,” he said.

He said that it was a different situation while traveling from Adamawa to Lagos where they paid only once to the union.

Meanwhile, commuters have lamented the high transportation fares, describing it as “a difficult situation” for the Christmas and new year celebrations.

Some travellers said that the fare was higher compared to the previous years, calling on the state government and other relevant agencies to prevail on the situation.

Mrs Mercy Okoro, a traveller at Ebonyi Transport Services (EBOTRANS) said the situation was difficult on the public.

Okoro, who was to travel with her four kids to Umuahia, Abia state said she could no longer embark on the journey due to the higher fare.

A driver, Mr Clement Nwafor, said that the cost of traveling from Abakaliki to Afikpo is N2, 500 and Onicha, Ohaozara local government areas is N2, 500 respectively. This is what we have been collecting since the year began.

On checkpoints, Nwafor, said it was not common in Ebonyi state, stating that there were only three checkpoints from the security agencies along the Abakaliki-Afikpo road.

“We don’t normally meet checkpoints within the state. You can find such along the highways like, Abakaliki-Enugu expressway, Enugu-Onitsha among others.

Transport operators in Enugu metropolis have also increased their fares within the city as residents make final shopping for the Christmas celebrations.

Investigation by NAN showed that the increase involved taxi drivers, bus drivers, Uber drivers and tricycle operators also known as Keke.

NAN reports that most drivers, especially city bus drivers have hiked their fares for every drop, thereby frustrating many commuters.

NAN reports that a transport fare from Gariki to either Ogbete market or New market which used to cost N400 now goes for between N500 and N600 by bus while tricycles cost the same.

Also, bus fare from Agbani road to other parts of the city has increased to about 50 per cent.

A bus fare from Ogbete market to Abakpa has also gone up to between N500 and N600 from the usual N400.

A taxi fare from Agbani road to Asata road inside the city which used to cost N400 now costs N600.

A bus driver, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, told NAN that the situation was just normal and not connected to increase in petrol or any other factor.

“Passengers are rushing; so, if you cannot pay, another passenger is ready to pay.

“It is our time to make little money to celebrate Christmas like others,” he said.

A tricycle operator, Mr Innocent Uzor, said that as people were rushing to the market and to their villages, it is time for transporters to make money.

Also speaking, another passenger, Mrs Veronica Ugwueze condemned the hike in fares, describing it as “selfish and unreasonable”.

“It is wickedness by tricyclists and bus drivers, they are just exploiting people because of Christmas,” she said.