Drivers in Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo State on Monday blocked the ever busy Sakponba Road to protest the increment on petroleum products.
The drivers who urged the their colleagues to increase the transport fare for passengers already picked with lower prices threatened to discharge them from the buses if they refuse to pay the extra charges.
Commuters were stranded as many were seen trekking to cross the two road blocks mounted by the protesting drivers at the Aifuwa Street and Pioneer Junction.
Speaking, a driver, who gave his name as John said , the protest was to help themselves as the price for Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS) which was selling for a little above N800 now sells for N1350.
According from him, “We were buying fuel for N870 before the increment and we carry passengers for N500 , but now we buy fuel for 1350 and still carry passengers for the same amount, how do you expect us to survive ?
“You buy fuel for N 25,000 for a day ,
you balance the owner of the bus, how do you make money that you will take home to take care of you family? “He queried.A passenger, who preferred anonymity said she was coming from Ring road and suddenly discovered that there was road blocked, while passengers were discharged by the protesting drivers.
“I was coming from Ring road this morning, on getting after Oka market, I discovered that the road was blocked by drivers , who are agitating for increment on transport fares due to the the current increase in fuel.
“When they started forcing people to come down ,I just parked my loads and came down. I want to cross over the road block before I enter a bus going to Idogbo. ” She concluded.
Wawa reporters gathered that the high cost of petroleum products has added to transport fare in Benin City, . For example, a trip from Idogbo, Upper Sakponba to Ring road, which used to cost between N500- N700 before the increase is now N800 -N1000, while Ikpoba Hill to Ring road which was N500 to N700 is now between N700 to N1000.
