Commercial transport operators in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, have increased their fares by about 50 per cent following the increase in the price of fuel.

The hike in transport fares caused motorists and travellers to groan over the sudden change in price of the product at pump price.

The operators blamed the situation on the increase in the pump price of petrol from N950 to N1,150 per litre.

For instance, a trip from Eta Agbor to Marian and Mobil, which cost N200 and N300 before, has now increased to N250 and N350.

Also, tricycle riders now collect N250 for a trip from Goldie to Watt Market rather than the N200 they hitherto collected from commuters.

Mini bus drivers also charged N1,000 for a trip of N500 to Ikang, in Bakassi Local Council, saying they cannot buy fuel for N1,100 per litre and still charge the old fare.

Some filling stations along Murtala Muhammed Highway were not dispensing the product on Monday morning, with their gates firmly locked.

Most students and workers are seen trekking to and fro to work, with others who had chosen to stay indoors due to hike in transport fares.

Some students, who spoke on the situation, expressed disappointment.

A student of University of Calabar, Anthony Bassey, said he is angry with the development as the increase in transport fare has paved way for increased economic hardship.

Bassey said, “I reside at 8 Miles area and usually spend N1,000 to and from school on a daily basis.

“This morning to my greatest surprise, a driver asked me to pay extra N200 to school and since I cannot afford that, I have to stay at home.

“The sudden increase in the fare has disrupted my plan for the semester so I have to skip school for some days so I can meet up,” Bassey maintained.

Edem Peters, a public servant in Bakassi Local Council, complained about the development and called on the state government to do something about this arbitrary increase in transport fares.

Peters stated that the minimum wage paid by government is not just a joke but a mockery on people who are working for government.

“As you can see, transport fares across the metropolis have doubled over night.

“How do you expect us to make ends meet when things continue getting this bad. Our salaries have been fixed for over a decade now yet prices of commodities have been increasing unabating.

“Government is supposed to review these wages as the economy worsens because we are bearing the brunt but this is not the case.

“Our salaries can barely take us home and if you have to pay N800 daily for transport, you can imagine what it amounts to at the end of every month,” Peter stated.

Iniabasi Inyang, a commercial mini bus driver said they had to increase their fares to prevent their businesses from packing up.

Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Ekpenyong Cobham, was not available for comment, but a senior member of staff of the ministry said that he was not aware of such development. (The Guardian)