Taxi drivers set to impose 100% hike in transport fares in Cross River
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Taxi Drivers in Cross River have perfected plans to Impose a 100 per cent hike in transport fares on passengers within the Calabar Metropolis.
The increase in fares is courtesy of the Unified Commercial Drivers Association which has about 5000 members across the state.
The drivers association in a public notice said: “We the commercial drivers of Calabar Metropolis have decided to increase transportation fare from N50 to N100 short distance due to the high cost of spare parts, fuel and other commodities in the market”.
They cited the high cost of fuel as well as spare parts as the primary reason why they decided to hike the fares.
Some of the spare parts listed by the drivers are engine oil which increased from 2,500 to 8,500 between 2015 and 2021.
Other items which increased significantly in the period under review are Fuel from 87 to 170, Audi Engine from 60,000 to 210,000 while timing belt increased from 2,500 to 15,000 all between 2015 to 2021.
James Odu, the Public Relations Officer of the Association confirmed the development and said the increase will commence on the 22nd of November, 2021.
He said they are not out to make money but it’s due to the cost of fuel and spare parts.
Cross River State Ministry of Transport has not reacted to the planned increase as at press time.
Last week, pure water sellers in the Metropolis also imposed a 100 percent increase in the price of pure water as a bag of water which previously sold for N100 now sells for N200.
