By Dada Ahmed in Agbaroh.
Passengers that plying train from Agbarho in Delta to Itapke in Kogi State on Sunday,bemoaned the deplorable condition of the road that leads to the Agbaroh Railway Station, near Warri with a call on the federal government to repair the road.
They expressed their feeling in a separate interview with the correspondent of The Reporters at the station on Sunday.
They maintained that the repair would ease the agony of passengers plying the road and encourage more patronage for the services of the station.
“The road leading to this railway station, from suburbs of Warri, is an eyesaw, to say the least.
“Apart from making passengers pass through “hell” enroute the road to the station in their effort to board train, kekenapep drivers and Okada operation always cash in on the deplorable condition of the road to charge passengers cut-throat fare,” Mr. Charles Nwachukwu said.
Another passenger, Miss Esther Stephen, said rather than paying the normal N300 fare from Agbaroh township to the railway station, the Okada operator made her to pay N1,500, citing the terrible condition of the road.
“You can imagine that at this heightened harsh economic reality in Nigeria, somebody is being forced to pay N1,500 fare for less than one kilometre journey on a motorcycle.This is not fair but can we blame them, look at the bad nature of the road.
“The management of the railway station in Agbaroh should emulate their counterparts in Itakpe by making sure that the road that leads to the station is made passable, to boost patronage of the services of the station, she said.
Our correspondent gathered that the poor condition of the road gets much worse during raining season as its various potholes usually turn to pool of water thus impeding human and vehicular movement.
Some passengers also complained of inadequate seats at the station but commended the station for adequate security and ensuring the comfortable of the passengers inside the train, safety and security of goods.
They also praised ticket officials for living up to their bidding by enduring effective check against racketeering and short change by passengers.
Our correspondent who board the train on Sunday reports that ticket officials detected a female passenger who attempted to shortchange the station by paying less fare and made her to “upgrade” the fare or face the consequences of her dishonesty.
