Mini-bus commercial transport operators in Osogbo, Osun State, have announced a new fare regime, with passengers on some routes within the state capital now paying as much as N1,200, citing rising fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.
The new fares were announced by members of the Association of Korope Drivers during a peaceful protest in Osogbo on Wednesday, where the operators also called for an investigation into the management of revenues generated from daily transport tickets.
Under the new arrangement, fares on shorter routes have been fixed at N300, while passengers on longer routes will pay between N400 and N1,200, depending on their destinations.
The drivers said the adjustment had become necessary because of the increasing cost of petrol and vehicle maintenance, which they claimed had made it increasingly difficult to operate at the previous fares.
Speaking during the protest, one of the representatives of the drivers, Abdulwasiu Osuolale, said the operators were also concerned about the manner in which daily tickets were being administered by transport union leaders.
Osuolale said the drivers wanted relevant authorities to examine the collection and utilisation of ticket revenues, alleging that some individuals collecting the proceeds were not remitting them to government coffers.
He said the protest, which commenced around 7:00am, was also intended to formally notify residents of the fare adjustment and explain the factors responsible for the increase.
Under the revised fare structure, passengers travelling from Kobo to Owode-Ede will pay N1,200, while trips from Ota-Efun to Owode-Ede and Owode-Ede to Bolanle/Dele Yes Sir will cost N1,000.
Other long-distance routes attracting higher fares include Stadium to Owode-Ede at N800, while journeys involving Ayetoro, Igbona, Dagbolu, Old Garage, Olaiya, Okefia, Olobu and Ifon will attract fares ranging from N600 to N700, depending on the route.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, Emmanuel Olowu, said the drivers had exercised their democratic rights by expressing their grievances peacefully.
Olowu said the issues raised by the transporters went beyond the fare increase, stressing that their concerns about ticket collection and administration also required attention from the appropriate authorities.