Residents of Nnewi have expressed disappointment on what they described as unusual and unpatriotic commercial motorcycles, Okada fare increase during Christmas and New Year festivities.
Based on the situation, some of the aggrieved commuters,called for an Okada ban in Nnewi and to allow tricycles,otherwise known as Keke, to replace them.
They accused Okada operators of frustrating residents’ as well as returnees’ movement within and outside the industrial city because of high Okada fare despite the fact that there was no pump price increase of petroleum products during the season.
They frowned that it is most unpatriotic for the Okada riders to deliberately increase their fares by over two hundred per cent to make things difficult for both the residents and returnees.
An investigation revealed that most of the Okada riders during the festive period tripled their fares irrespective of the destination as a place that usually cost two hundred naira became six hundred to eight hundred naira.
Reacting, the chairman, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, Anambra State branch, Comrade Jude Udegbe, absolved members of his union of deliberately hiking transport fare.
He blamed it on the high cost of food items and motorcycle spare parts as members bought things from the same market as others and would not meet up if their fares were not adjusted to swell their pockets.
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