The people of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, are expressing deep concern over the current scarcity of fuel affecting the town.
They are also distressed by the exorbitant cost of transportation within and outside the state capital.
In discussions with NewsNow on Monday, individuals highlighted their frustration with the persistent fuel challenges despite various government interventions.
One civil servant, known simply as Michael, shared how he had to spend N1,000 to travel from his residence in the Ayekale area to the Osun State Government Secretariat.
“To reach the office today, I first took a commercial motorcycle to Ikirun road, and then boarded a minibus to Abere. I have already spent over N1,000. I dread the expenses I will incur during rush hour at the end of the day,” he remarked.
Commenting on the unusual surge in everyday expenses in Osogbo, Michael expressed doubt about their ability to cope with the situation.
Similarly, Tosin Odejimi, who travels daily from Ife to Osogbo for academic commitments, voiced concerns about attending classes due to the high transportation costs.
“I couldn’t afford the N1,500 bus fare from Ife to Osogbo today. I resorted to flagging down a passing bus by the roadside. I hope I can find a N1,000 bus back to Ife after classes,” Odejimi shared.
“As night falls, the costs keep rising,” he added.
Another civil servant, Clement Ogunsusi, mentioned that if the situation persists by the week’s end, he may have to park his car and rely on public transportation due to the petrol scarcity and high prices in Osogbo.
Kafayat Lawal, a parent, disclosed that her children might have to stay home for the entire week. She recounted her discouraging experience on Monday, facing high transportation costs on the first day of school resumption.
She emphasized the need for government intervention, stating that the situation was distressing.
NewsNow’s findings showed that fares along various routes had significantly increased. For instance, the fare from Owode-Ede to Olaiya Junction rose from N200 to N300 in a week.
Furthermore, the fare from House of Assembly junction to the state government secretariat climbed to N200, double the previous cost of N100.
Other routes like Ogo-Oluwa to Technical College now charge N300 compared to the earlier rate of N200, and Technical College to Ogo-Oluwa costs N250.
Similarly, the fare from Ogo-Oluwa to Olaiya Junction spiked from N100 to N200 within a week.
Motorcycle operators across Osogbo have also hiked their fares by up to 200%, varying based on the route.
Filling stations have started experiencing long queues, with some deserted. Some motorists expressed distress over the rising cost of petrol, approaching N800 per liter.
Recall that on Sunday, the Osun State Government, through its task force on Petroleum Price Monitoring, cautioned petrol station owners against hoarding products to create artificial scarcity.
The warning came in a statement by the task force Chairman, Kazeem Akinleye, the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, citing reports of hoarding by marketers.
Emphasizing the harsh economic conditions faced by the public, the government urged marketers to consider the welfare of citizens in their pricing. The task force also issued a stern warning of legal consequences for hoarders.