Fuel price hike : Osogbo mini-bus drivers protest, demand fare increase

Commercial mini-bus drivers in Osogbo staged a protest on Wednesday over the recent hike in petrol prices.

The drivers parked their vehicles around the Olaiya Flyover, preventing other mini-bus drivers from conveying passengers in protest against the increase.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the situation caused gridlock in the area.

Speaking with a NAN correspondent, one of the protesting drivers, Mr Ajayi Fatai, said the situation had become so bad that they were now spending almost all the money they made on fuel.

Fatai said the protest was aimed at raising awareness and pressuring drivers to review transport fares.

“We cannot continue to collect N200 per drop again, as it is no longer sustainable.

“We now buy fuel between N1,250 and N1,500, and the price of spare parts has also gone up.

“It is therefore logical that we increase the intracity transport fare,” he said.

Another protesting driver, Mr. Mufutau Ajani, said the government’s daily ticket charges were also an issue affecting their operations.

Ajani said introducing a new transport fare was the only way to cushion the effect of the fuel price increase on their business.

He appealed to residents and commuters to bear with the drivers.

Police officers and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were present throughout the protest to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order.

NAN reports that the protesters later dispersed, allowing normal business activities to resume in the area.

Culled from vanguard