Brave Dickson
Commercial drivers in Rivers State have justified the sudden increase in transport fare as they attributed it to the lingering scarcity of premium motor spirit popularly known as petrol.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Chairman of the state Urban Drivers Welfare Association, Lekia Isaac said there is no way commercial drivers would buy petrol at N300 per litre and not hike transport fare.
He expressed sadness over the scarcity of fuel, adding that the situation is really affecting commercial drivers negatively as they hardly see fuel to buy.
“We really hope they resolve this lingering fuel scarcity as quick as possible because, we the commercial drivers are suffering from it and passengers would suffer more because we will increase transport fare.
“A lot of fuel stations are not selling and the few ones that try to sell are selling much above the official pump price.
“The government and other stakeholders should look into this issue of scarcity and resolve it immediately, else, we will keep increasing transport fare in order to be in business,” he said.
Though the state Commissioner of Poiice, Friday Ebuka had promised to wade into the matter in a bid to resolve it as the lingering fuel scarcity continues.
The scarcity is said to have been caused by an industrial action embarked upon by some operators in the oil section demanding for an end to oil theft and illegal levies imposed on tanker drivers.
