…Announces New Transport Measures
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has issued a stern warning to transport operators in the state to avoid exploiting commuters following the recent increase in fuel prices.
Addressing concerns over potential fare hikes, Governor Abiodun emphasized that the price adjustments should not lead to exorbitant fare increases.
In a recent meeting with transport unions at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun announced that his administration would deploy 100 brand-new 18-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to support transporters. The move aims to mitigate the impact of the fuel price hike on transportation costs.
The governor further revealed that the Federal Government would provide 20 additional CNG buses and 500 conversion kits to Ogun State within the coming week. This initiative is part of the broader Energy Transition Program under the Presidential CNG initiative.
Governor Abiodun stated, “Our plan is to make 100 brand-new 18-seater CNG buses available to our transport unions under a purchase agreement, allowing payments in installments. These buses will be high-quality Toyota Hiace models.”
He criticized the trend of excessive fare increases following minor adjustments in fuel prices, stressing that the recent 30% increase in petrol prices should not result in transport fare hikes exceeding 30%. “When fuel prices increase by 10% to 20%, transport fares should not rise by 2000%,” he said.
To ensure fair pricing, Governor Abiodun has also established an enforcement committee comprising the State Police Commissioner, the Director of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE), and heads of transport unions, along with representatives from the Ministries of Transportation and Trade and Investment.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, urged transporters to consider fuel as just one component of their operational costs and to avoid overburdening the public. Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alamutu echoed this sentiment, calling for a more reasonable fare structure.
In response, Prince Samsudeen Apelogun, the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), commended the governor for his efforts to reform the transport sector and pledged to work with stakeholders to develop fairer fare structures.
