Stephen Enoch
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Christmas is here, travelers and drivers are lamenting the economic downturn and rise in transport fares.
The high cost of transportation has left some travelers stranded, while others are adjusting their expectations to cope with the difficult situation.
Despite the cost of transportation some passengers choose to explore cheaper transport, traveling on trailers or night trips.
Some travelers spoke to Stallion Times about their predicaments with motor parks in the Kano metropolis.
At Mallam Kato Park in the heart of the ancient city, Yaaji Jimmy was spotted struggling to pay for his transport fare to Kaduna.
He lamented the harsh economic realities facing Nigerians this festive season.
“Last year from Kano to Kaduna was N4,000.00 now it is N6,000.00 Naira”
Another traveler at Naibawa Park, along Zaria Road, Christiana Soji, highlighted that the transportation cost from Kano to Abuja has risen from N9,000.00 to N12,000.00 Naira.
“I have to make this journey to visit my family; if not, I will just stay behind.
“The transportation cost has made me leave my children at home because I cannot afford to pay the N12,000 for my 5 children.
“The government needs to look into the perennial rise in transportation during the festive seasons.
“Also there is a need to stabilize the transportation fare or the government should provide another means of owned transportation that can be affordable to the public.”
Many passengers echoed similar worries about the possibility of further price hikes in the New Year, it is even harder to travel.
Meanwhile, some travelers remain hopeful, while others are bracing for tougher times.
Drivers, Transport Operators Face Challenges
The economic squeeze is not limited to passengers alone.
Drivers and transport operators are worried about high fuel prices, reduced patronage, and increased operational costs.
Abubakar Ahmed, a driver, plying the Bauchi to Kano route, stated that the fare has risen to 8,000 naira, but passengers are scarce.
“Before, transportation from Kano to Bauchi used to be 3,000 naira, but ever since the increase in petrol prices, things have been tough.”
He added that December, which used to be a productive month for transporters, has now become a struggle, with waybills serving as a supplementary source of income.
“We charge between 1,000.00 and 5,000.00 Naira per package, depending on size and fragility, just to make ends meet,” he said.
Despite recent drops in fuel prices, fares have not decreased significantly, as drivers fear another spike in fuel costs in the coming months.
This uncertainty discourages passengers, leading to lower demand for transportation services.
Yusuf Saleh, an executive member at Malam Kato Park, also highlighted the challenges faced by drivers.
According to him, the fare from Kano to Abuja has increased from 10,000.00 to 12,000.00 Naira, with the cost of operational expenses being the primary reason.
“From Kano to Kaduna, it’s now about 6,000.00 up from 5,500.00 Naira. Passengers are complaining about the fares, but drivers are equally complaining about the lack of passengers”, Saleh said.
Saleh noted that it now takes over an hour to load a vehicle, compared to the 15–35 minutes it took previously.
“Before, passengers would wait for vehicles, but now we have excess vehicles and only a few passengers. It’s rare to see a full family traveling these days,” he added.
