Monday Ocheja :
The ban on motorcycles in Kaduna, has continued to force commuters including workers, traders and students to swallow the bitter pills, a daily dose of prescription arising from the security measures adopted by the State Government to contain banditry.
Moving round the metropolis, commuters in their hundreds are either stranded at bus stops or seen trekking to get to their places of work or businesses
Those who spoke to Afica Prime News, said the ban on motorcycles whose availability doubled the numbers of buses and taxis in the metropolis before now, has brought untold hardship to the residents.
Due to the scarcity of transportation, the few commercial buses and taxis have taken the advantage and increased fares by about two hundred per cent, residents frowned
Mr Shola Adetola says a trip from Sabo Tasha to Kaduna metropolis, now go for #250 as against the normal #100 and #150 during rush hours.
A primary school teacher, Mrs Mindat Luka says, “the transport fares have doubled, unlike in the past, from Narayi to my place of work that is about a kilometre which was #50 is now #100, if you are lucky maybe #70”.
While Mrs Khadija Adamu said, from Rigasa to town is N250 against N150, depends even the location one is coming from to the metropolis.
According to Mustapha Musa, a trader who deals in Wears says, he now pays N150 to the metropolis from Ungwan Dosa which is within the metropolis “as against the N50 we used to pay”
Mr Friday Sule, says before the ban, transport fare from Kakuri to NEPA Roundabout was N100, but is now between N150 and #200 .” this is too much on us, why are transporters sabotaging government efforts by making people to blame government in the bid to solving the security challenges?” he Frowned.
Meanwhile, some private car owners, have now joined the transport business in order to fill up the gap created by the ban .
In places like Narayi, Sabo Tasha, Eastern by pass, Rafin gosa, Rigasa, and others suburbs, these private car owners are seen mostly at nights transporting passengers who were stranded.. “We are filling in the gab for the three circle riders (keke napep taxis) which were also affected by the policy from 6am to 7pm.
They advised the State government to make alternative arrangement by purchasing long buses and introduce intra city service to ameliorate the suffering of the residents.