Transport fares remain high in Lagos, despite appreciable fuel availability

Transport fares across the Lagos metropolis on Thursday remained high, in spite of the seeming availability of fuel, as the product was now being dispensed at most filling stations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lingering fuel scarcity across the country had forced many commercial transport operators to jack up their fares.

NAN checks on Thursday revealed that a ride from Iyana-Ipaja to Agege remained at N70, instead of the usual N50, while Agege to the State Secretariat, Alausa is pegged at N100, as against the usual N70.

Also, Costain to Ikeja which had hitherto been at N150, now goes for N250.

However, fares from Mile 2 to Orile and Costain to CMS remained normal at N50 each, as was charged before the crisis, while Costain on the Mainland to Masha in Surulere also remained unchanged at N100.

Some of the commercial transporters in Lagos who spoke to NAN said getting the product, however, remained a challenge.

They said apart from having to spend long hours on queues, petrol was still being sold for between N140 and N180 per litre at most filling stations, as against the official price of N86.50.

A tricycle operator who identified himself as Murisiku, said, “who says the fuel is available; tell me where to find it and I will gladly reward you.

“If you go to even the closest filling station to us here at Costain, you will be lucky to get fuel without a fight.

“So, how does that translate to fuel being available?” he asked.

On his part, Mr Hakeem Lukman, a bus operator, said “this morning, getting petrol wasn’t difficult, compared to previous attempts; I just drove in and purchased the product, though at N180 per litre.

Some Station Managers and attendants at some filling stations whose comments were sought by NAN declined, claiming that they were too busy attending to customers.

However, NAN gathered that the loading of tankers at the Ibafon Depot in Apapa has been on a round-the-clock basis since Tuesday, following the pledge by the Federal Government to eradicate fuel queues in Abuja and Lagos, this week.