As the festive mood sets in across various parts of the country, upward adjustments in transportation fares are stirring growing concern.

Adding to Nigerians’ cost-of-living strain, inflated transport fares lay bare the exploitative side of the festive period.

Findings revealed varied rates in interstate transportation costs, as stable prices characterise some routes, while others, particularly in the private sector, witness sharp increases.

Charged transport service costs by God Is Good Motors (GIGM), a mobility company, revealed a steep upward adjustment in prices.

Details from GIGM’s booking platform showed transit fares as follows: Abuja to Awka costs N71,250; Abuja (Zuba) to Lagos (Festac) costs N54,000; Abuja (Mararaba) to Cross River (Calabar) costs N94,250; and Abuja (Utako) to Cross River (Calabar) costs N79,750.

In another finding, mobility costs charged by Ekesons Motors showed that Abuja to Lagos now costs N55,000; Awka to Lagos costs N25,000; and Ibadan to Abuja now costs N47,000.

Also, Pacesetters Transport Services, according to findings from its Ibadan-based terminal, pegged prices to Abuja at N32,000, while Bayelsa costs N40,500; Calabar costs N48,000; and Enugu costs N43,000.

Before the festive period, online checks revealed that transport prices from Abuja to destinations in the South-East ranged between N30,000 and N50,000, depending on vehicle type and comfort level.

For instance, Kubwa (Abuja) to Nsukka previously cost N32,750; Abuja to Owerri was N45,000; Abuja to Akwa Ibom was N38,000; while Utako (Abuja) to Enugu was priced at N46,750.

Peoples Gazette, however, observed that transportation rates, contrary to the festive trend, have remained at normal levels across some other routes.

Interstate transportation services from the Ojoo bus terminal in Ibadan to Mile 2 currently cost N5,200; Ibadan to Jos costs N40,500; Ibadan to Abuja costs N30,000; and Ibadan to Iseyin costs N2,500.

At the Iwo Road central bus terminal, considered one of the foremost public interstate transit facilities in the South-West region, transportation rates remained unchanged: Ibadan to Ilorin costs N5,200; Ibadan to Ogbomosho costs N4,200; Ibadan to Ore costs N7,200; Ibadan to Akure costs N6,200; Ibadan to Abuja (by bus) costs N26,000; and Ibadan to Abuja (by car) costs N35,000.

A teacher, Oyeyemi, who used the Ibadan-based transport facility to Ondo State earlier in December, confirmed the unchanged transportation costs.

“The price is the same. The last time I used the facility, Ondo to Ore cost N7,200. That extra N200 was an additional rate for the terminal station,” Mrs Oyeyemi said.

Reacting, a commuter, Oladoyin Olanrewaju, faulted the federal and state governments’ inability to regulate transportation prices despite the drop in fuel prices.

“Price of petroleum has fallen and is lower than it was three months ago. Normally, this should lead to lower transportation costs and cheaper goods for the public. Unfortunately, this is not happening. Taxi and cab fares, such as the cost of traveling from Ibadan to Oyo, have stayed the same,” Mr Olanrewaju said.

“This shows a gap in how prices are monitored and controlled. Without proper oversight, businesses like this would keep prices high, and ordinary people would continue to pay more than they should.”

“The government needs to act by giving transportation regulatory agencies clear authority to monitor prices,” he added.