Lokoja
Transport fare in kogi state has increased by 100 percent, following the closure of the border between state and other states to check the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus to the state.
Duaglobalnews reports that though the state government rolled out measures, including commercial transportation, in and out of the state, many commercial drivers failed to adhere to the ban.
A correspondent of the online medium, who visited motor parks in Lokoja, the state capital on Monday reports that it was almost business as usual as passengers were seen boarding vehicles to various destinations.
Our investigation revealed that a journey of 70 kilometres from Lokoja to Okenr which hitherto cause passenger N500.00 has jumped to N1,000.oo per trip.
Passengers traveling from Lokoja to Kabba, a journey of about 75 kilometres, hitherto pegged at N600.00 has also gone to N1,200 per trip.
Similar prihibitive transport fare prevailed as those traveling from the state capital lamented in interviews with the online publication that they had been forced to pay double the amount of transport fare to accomplish their journey.
Our correspondent reports that rather than conveying six passengers,small commercial cars now carry three but at the exorbitant rate.
A commuter, Mr Mathew Oguche said:”Travellers from Lokoja to other parts of the state have been forced to pay fare through their nose due to restriction of human and vehicle movement to check the spread of COVID19.”
” Though the rationale behind the measure is laudable, but it is at a cost to travellers who in addition have to cope with increase prices and services in the society due to hike in transport fare.”
Kogi has not recorded any reported Coronavirus case but Nigeria has so far recorded 111 since the pandemic broke out in Wuhan, China December 27,2019.
