Private transport owners have announced a 25 per cent increase in fares for commercial trips on interstate routes.
In a memo issued on Tuesday, the Association of Private Transport Company Owners of Nigeria (APTCON) asked its members to effect the increase from August 25, 2022.
The development comes after the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) announced that the price of bread is expected to rise by 20 per cent due to the increase in the price of raw materials caused by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The transporters stated that, owing to the prevailing harsh economic situation, as well as the recently announced increase in petrol pump prices across the country, the board of APTCON, in collaboration with its member companies, deliberated and unanimously agreed that a marginal increase in interstate transportation fares is inevitable.
The operators also explained that this increase was borne out of the “downturn that has greatly affected all sectors of the economy, especially transportation. In response to the high cost of operations, while many trade associations have increased charges as a means of survival, some others, like the elitist airlines, have received post-pandemic intervention funds from the government.”
The group pointed out that scarcity of forex and high exchange rates have made it impossible for transporters to purchase new vehicles, while the cost of spare parts for vehicle maintenance has risen by almost 80%.
“These challenges have taken a significant toll on the revenue of private transport company owners across Nigeria, as most transporters are either operating at a loss or at cost. While some have had to shut down operations completely, many others have expressed their inability to pay salaries much less run profitably.
“To address the situation, APTCON hereby implores all private interstate passenger transport company owners of Nigeria to increase bus fares by at least 25% effective 25th August 2022.
“It is important to mention that although this increase will be beneficial to all stakeholders, it will only work if we all work hand in hand to enforce it at our various parks, stations and terminals,” it said.
