With barely a day to the Christmas celebration, motor parks in parts of Kaduna metropolis have witnessed low patronage.

A survey on Sunday in Kaduna revealed a low turnout of passengers at the respective motor parks visited.

Some of the drivers and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) said the development was due to the high fuel cost coupled with the country’s economic crunch.

Dauda Ayuba, a commercial driver at Sabo park, said a litre of fuel now costs N675, which is unbearable for most operators.

“There is fuel almost everywhere, but it is too expensive, and for us to make ends meet, we have to cope with what we get. Usually, on a day close to Christmas, the parks would be a beehive of activities with passengers trooping in their numbers, but today is the opposite,” Mr Ayuba added.

Garba Muhammad, a commercial driver at Central Market Motor Park, said he had yet to make a trip to Zaria since he got to the park around 6:00 a.m.

“In the previous years, I should have made two trips to and from Zaria,” he said.

Hamadu Isa, another commercial driver at Mando Park, noted on his part that there were more empty vehicles at the park than passengers.

“As you see, some of the drivers are even sleeping in their cars because of the cold waiting for passengers. It is very obvious that most people won’t travel for the Christmas festivity like they used to,” Mr Isa said.

Sarah Musa, a civil servant resident at Karji, said she used to travel with her family to her village from Kaduna in the previous years, but the situation had changed.

She said, “The low turnout at the parks is coupled with non-payment of salary to workers and as such, most people will observe a low-key celebration.

“People are concerned about what to eat and other demands that come with the beginning of the year.”

(NAN)