Some commercial drivers operating within Enugu metropolis have decried low patronage by residents, attributing it to the economic challenges in the country.

They spoke during separate interviews on Saturday in Enugu.

According to them, the recent increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit popularly called petrol had worsened the situation.

A commercial vehicle driver, Okwy Ozor, said the profit he made from the transport business had reduced since the Federal Government announced the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase of pump price of the product.

He said, “Driving business has not been moving fine since the removal of fuel subsidy and the subsequent increase in the price of fuel.’’

A tricycle rider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the increase in fuel price made him increase the transportation fare.

He said, “When we started buying petrol for N650, 00, we only increased transport fare a little and passengers were finding it difficult to pay. Where we used to collect N100 we increased it to N150, 00 or N200 depending on the distance, but passengers still wanted to pay the old fare. That is why these days many people prefer to enter the big commercial buses, popularly called 911 which is cheaper than the tricycle while many have resorted to trekking.’’

A mini-bus driver, Felix Ujah, said that it was not the fault of the commercial drivers that the transportation fare had increased.

He said, “It is not that we, commercial drivers, do not understand the plight of the passengers, but because sometimes if you buy N7000 worth of fuel it will not take you more than one or two days. So business has been bad for us since they increased fuel prices. Sometimes you will only go two rounds in the morning during school hours and after that, one can only pick few passengers until closing school hours.’’

A bus conductor, Caleb Onyema, said that he observed that many residents, especially civil servants and students resorted to trekking since petrol pump price increased to N1,150 as against its previous price of N980,00

Also another commercial driver, Osita Ugwu, said he hardly made enough gain as against what he used to have before.

He said, “I spend so much but at the end of the day l cannot even realise the amount I used in fuelling my vehicle. It is a sad situation; I call on the government to quickly resolve the issue of increase in the price of fuel so that prices of foodstuffs and other things will come down.’’

(NAN)