By Uzor Odigbo
Following the hike in tariffs across board by government, the Association of Private Transport Company Owners of Nigeria (APTCON) has said it will hike transportation fares by 500 per cent.
The association said the move was its response to what it called multiple taxation by sundry governments.
The organisation disclosed this during its general meeting, saying passengers in the country will face hard times as transport fares may increase by up to 500 per cent in the next few weeks.
The APTCON blamed their action on multiple taxation on members by government authorities at differentt levels, adding that they are facing difficult challenges in the industry.
The association, in the cause of the meeting, unanimously agreed to increase the fares across Nigeria, stressing that such move may be their only way to survive in the sector.
APTCON also noted that transporters are aware that over 90 per cent of Nigerians rely on them for their daily activities hence, their struggle to be on the road always.
The group maintained that transporters are always being exploited by the government especially at the state and local government levels.
They posited that members lose millions of Naira monthly in form of taxes.
“How much are we making from this business especially with this new law about social distancing in buses, which requires us to carry maximum of seven passengers in a 14 seater bus and 28 passengers in a 50 seater bus?
“Governments are quick to charge and enforce unlawful taxes, but do not give us any support whatsoever. How do we survive?” the association queried.
Meanwhile APTCON spokesperson, Mr. Audu Gaddo noted that the government was making it impossible for transporters to operate profitably.
He hinted that one of the toughest challenges being faced by members remains the issue of multiple taxation.
Gaddo further pointed out that the states most hit by these unlawful charges are Lagos, Abia, Rivers, Imo, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta, as well as the Abuja Municipal Area Council.