Eid-el-Fitr: Commercial Drivers Lament Low Turnout Of Passengers In Oyo
Several commercial drivers in Ibadan, Oyo State capital have lamented the low turnout of passengers before and during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration and holidays.
Visits to the central motor parks at Sango and Iwo Road and the Ojoo bus terminal showed drivers practically left with nothing doing.
This was because there was no increase recorded in inter-state commuting.
One of the commercial drivers, Mr Musibao Alani, said that there was nothing signifying any celebration or holiday, as there had been a low turnout of passengers.
“People are not travelling like before, and it is understandable because of the present economic situation.
“Everyone is managing the little resources available to them. So, travelling is not a top priority for many people,” Alani said.
The Chairman, Saki Motor Park, Mr Michael Adelokun, stated that regardless of the extension of the holidays by the Federal Government, most people seemed to have planned not to travel.
“Perhaps, this is affecting the usual surge to travel because people did not know that there would be a change and that an additional day would be added to the holidays,” he said.
Adelokun added that there had been low patronage as passengers were not coming out en masse as was obtainable during the last holidays.
“People have not been coming out due to lack of money, even as we have not increased the cost of transportation.
”A bus ride to Saki still costs N3,000, and a car ride goes for N3,500, and that has been the price for a long time now, despite the harsh economy,” he said.
Adelokun, however, noted that the cost of petrol, vehicle maintenance, and servicing was affecting money realised from the transportation business.
“Due to the general low purchasing power of Nigerians, it is difficult to increase transport fares amid skyrocketing prices of goods and services,” he said.
Another driver at Iwo Road Motor Park, Mr Aina Salawu, said the park had been quiet and devoid of the usual hustling and bustling.
