Forty-eight hours after suspension of a strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), transport fares have yet to come down on many routes in Lagos metropolis.
Some commercial bus operators told correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that they were unable to get fuel at official pump price of N87 per litre and so could not revert to normal fares.
Mr Segun Durojaiye, a commercial bus operator plying Ketu-Ojuelegba, said the news of the strike suspension by NUPENG brought much relief to commercial drivers.
Durojaiye, however, said that is unfortunate that after two days, getting fuel was still stressful.
“I was happy on hearing in the news that NUPENG suspended its strike but it was surprising that the most filling station are yet to revert to the regulated pump price of N87 per litre.
“I bought fuel this morning at a filling station along Ikorodu expressway at N120, the price is even higher in some other places, how do l revert fares?
“If I revert the fares now, I will run at a loss and will not be able to meet up my daily delivery,” Durojaiye said.
Mr Sule Alatunto, another operator who plies Oyingbo to Okokomaiko, said that transport fares could not come down immediately because long queues are still visible at filling stations.
“I parked at the filling station yesterday night, I bought fuel around 9.30a.m at N110; the little money we add to the fares is to make up the gaps for us to make little profit.
“A trip from Oyingbo to Orile before was N50 but now we pick passengers for N70 while from Oyingbo to Okoko, which was N150 before, is now N200.
“In fact, Oyingbo to Okoko was N300 on Monday morning but we have reduced it to N200,” Alatunto said.
Mr Kehinde Ibrahim, another operator plying Costain-CMS, said reverting to old fares would be gradual.
“I went through a lot of stress to get fuel and that is what every one of us goes through, we need to make some profit too.
“Costain to CMS was N50 before but now it is N100, pending the time when the fuel would be available at official pump price,’’ Ibrahim said.
Mr Aina Adeyanju, an operator plying Iyana-Ipaja to Oshodi said: “ buying fuel is still difficult and exorbitant, we are still watching to know whether to revert to old prices or not.
“We used to take N100 or N150 for Iyana-Ipaja Oshodi, but when the fuel problems came, it jumped to N300, even 500 at a point, especially on Monday morning,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, commuters, who spoke to NAN at different bus stops, appreciated NUPENG for the suspension of its strike.
Mrs Odunayo Daniel, a teacher in a private school said that transport fares had yet to come down, but vehicles were available.
“We are happy with the suspension of the strike, though we pray the products will be available for drivers at regulated price so that fares can come down,’’ she said.
Mr Isaiah Akingbade, a businessman called on the government to ensure supply of product to filling stations.
“We appeal to government to ensure supply of more fuel to filling stations to reduce stress motorists encounter.
“Let the government ensure the product is sold at regulated pump price to allow transport fare return to the former rates,’’ he said.
NAN reports that a trip from Oshodi to Ojuelegba cost N200 as against N100, while Ojuelegba to Orile cost N150 as against N70.
Costain to Mushin cost N150 as against N100, while Costain to Ikeja cost N250 as against N150. (NAN)