LAGOS JANUARY 7TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Scores of travellers returning to their bases after the yuletide season yesterday besieged motor parks in Warri, Asaba and Ughelli, Delta State seeking transportation to their destinations.
Thousands of the passengers were affected by the hike in fares, especially at Warri and Asaba motor parks where transport fares have been increased, with a former fare of N1,200 now hiked to N1,500.
Our checks revealed that Asaba-bound passengers were in their hundreds at the popular Summit motor park and Coka junction with different sizes of luggage.
Students returning to the state-owned university in Abraka were not left out in the confusion as they thronged the “Delta Line” waiting for buses to their school.
Although fares were not increased at the “Delta Line”, the situation at the motor park was chaotic as travellers waited endlessly for buses.
Some of the passengers who spoke to our correspondent expressed delight over the peaceful and hitch-free celebration in the metropolis and commended the state government for making it possible.
Meanwhile, passengers travelling to Abuja and other northern states complained of the increase in the fares and delay in departure, saying that normal transport fare to Abuja from Asaba before Christmas was N3,500 but it was jerked up to N5,000 few days to the Christmas and New Year and it had remained unchanged even after the festive periods.
One of the passengers who gave her name as Evelyn Sokoh, condemned the sudden increase in the fare and called on commercial drivers to always stabilise their fares.
But officials of various motor parks in Asaba, who did not want their names in print, said the hike in fares was informed by the increase in the volume of passengers, adding that before the end of January, the fares will stabilise.