OSUN KOROPE DRIVERS PROTEST FUEL PRICE, ANNOUNCE NEW FARES IN OSOGBO
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Operators of intra-city minibuses, popularly known as Korope, on Wednesday protested in Osogbo, Osun State, over the rising cost of petrol and alleged mismanagement of proceeds from daily transport tickets.
The drivers, under the aegis of the Association of Korope Drivers, said the increasing cost of fuel, spare parts and food items had made their operations increasingly difficult and unprofitable.
The protest, which began around 7am and ended about 2pm, disrupted transport services on some routes in the state capital, forcing some commuters to trek to their destinations.
The protesters converged on the popular Ayetoro Junction, where they parked their buses and reportedly prevented some colleagues who declined to participate from operating during the demonstration.
A representative of the protesters, Abdulwasiu Osuolale, said the drivers were also unhappy over what they described as the alleged mismanagement of proceeds from daily tickets collected by union leaders.
According to him, the drivers had resolved to increase fares on various routes within Osogbo and called on the state government to investigate how proceeds from ticket sales were being utilised.
“The fuel price has brought a lot of hardship. The leadership of the transport unions is also not treating drivers well. They don’t care about what we are going through. All they care about is the daily ticket money they collect from us.
“The cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance is too high, and that is why we came out today for this peaceful protest,” Osuolale said.
He added that the protest was organised to inform residents about the new fares.
“We started the protest at 7:00 am to inform Osogbo residents that transport fare has increased. A drop is now N300. Also, the government should investigate how proceeds from the ticket sales are being utilised. Some private individuals, rather than remitting it to government coffers, are keeping the proceeds,” he alleged.
Under the new fare structure released by the association, passengers travelling on the shortest routes within the state capital will pay a minimum of N300.
Some routes attracting the N300 fare include Dagbolu 1 and 2 to Kobo, Ota-Efun to Stadium, Ota-Efun to Testing Ground, Testing Ground to Igbona, Oja-Oba to Garage Ilesha, Oja-Oba to Olaiya and Old Garage, and Old Garage, Okefia to Dada Estate.
Other short routes in the N300 category include Olaiya to Dada Estate and Ofatedo to Ido-Osun.
Fares on several routes were fixed at N400, including Dagbolu to Ota-Efun, Testing Ground to Old Garage, Testing Ground to Oja-Oba, Biket, Powerline and Jaye to Old Garage, and Ayetoro, Igbona and Olorunda to Ota-Efun.
Routes such as Ota-Efun to Old Garage, Old Garage/Ola-Iya to Abere, Testing Ground to Ogo-Oluwa and Dagbolu 1 and 2 to Stadium and Testing Ground were placed in the N500 category.
The association fixed fares of N600 for longer routes, including Kobo to Old Garage, Ayetoro and Igbona to Abere, Old Garage and Ola-Iya to Owode, Ota-Efun to Oja-Oba and Testing Ground to Garage Ilesha.
Other routes attracting N600 include Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Ido-Osun and Owode-Ede to Olaiya and Okefia.
Some routes, including Ayetoro and Igbona to Owode-Ede, Dagbolu 1 and 2 to Okefia and Old Garage, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Olobu and Ifon, will now cost N700.
The fare from Stadium to Owode-Ede was fixed at N800, while passengers travelling from Ota-Efun to Owode-Ede and Owode-Ede to Bolanle and Dele Yes Sir will pay N1,000.
Kobo to Owode-Ede, described by the association as the longest route, will attract N1,200 per passenger.
Reacting to the protest, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, a civil society organisation in Osun State, Emmanuel Olowu, commended the drivers for conducting the protest without disrupting public peace.
Olowu said the drivers had a right to express their grievances in a democratic society, adding that the proposed fare increase was linked to the rising cost of petrol.
He also called attention to the drivers’ complaints about ticket collections, saying the concerns raised about individuals collecting transport levies outside government control should be examined.
“The other part is about their union leaders, who they said do not care about them. This shows that the current system where individuals who are not under government control collect ticket money cannot continue,” he said.
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