Yuletide: Cost Of Transportation Soars In Onitsha

Cost of transportation in this year’s Christmas period in Onitsha metropolis will go down in the annals of history as the most skyrocketed, as commercial drivers increased fare with over five hundred percent.

Correspondent Blessing Ijedibia, reports that seventy-two hours to the celebration, boarding a vehicle from Nkpor park to Onitsha Main Market costs between five hundred and seven hundred naira in a coaster bus while coming back from main market to Nkpor park after the day’s transaction costs between eight hundred and one thousand naira per passenger against the normal fare of one hundred and fifty naira.

The story was the same at Ochanja market where drivers of L300 bus collect between five hundred and six hundred naira to Nkpor park.

The sharp increase in transport fare cuts across all routes as a drop-in town service that costs fifty to hundred naira now goes for Four hundred naira.

Expressing sadness over the attitude of commercial drivers, an elderly man, Mr Godfrey Esomonye regretted the poor perception of Christ’s birth by some who profess Christianity, calling for a rethink.

On his part, Mr Ubaka Uchendu who said he was at Onitsha main market for Christmas shopping expressed dismay as he couldn’t afford the high cost of transportation as he trekked form Main market to Savoy junction before boarding a tricycle at two hundred naira to his destination.

ABS observed that as at five in the evening, hundreds of passengers were seen trekking to their various destinations.