Essential Ndubuisi
Commercial drivers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed their frustration over the low patronage by passengers during the Easter holidays, resulting in inadequate income to cater for their families.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), very few passengers were seen at the Jabi and Utako motor parks waiting to board vehicles at the time of filing the report. Mr Yakur Jeremiah, a driver, had anticipated an influx of passengers due to the Easter holidays, but was disappointed by the number of people at the park. He stated, “things have been slow in our business since the elections because people rarely travel like they used to.” He added that, “most of us depend on this business to cater for our families.”
Similarly, Gbenga Hassan, another driver, stated that “it is really a trying time for people in our line of business, and I guess for every Nigerian today.” He added that he did not have any other source of livelihood, and he depended on money from his transportation business to take care of his family of four. Another driver, Alhaji Lafia, also decried low passenger turnout and appealed to the incoming administration to look into the federal roads and ensure rehabilitation as it was becoming a death trap.
Miss Gift Agbo, a passenger traveling to Kaduna, said she was traveling due to the family tradition of celebrating the Easter season together. However, she stated that the country’s economy is not friendly, and many average-income earners find it difficult to make ends meet. She said, “there is little money in circulation, the cost of goods and services are very high, and people’s income has not changed.” She expressed hope that the incoming administration will do something to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
The low patronage by passengers during the Easter holidays has left commercial drivers in a difficult situation as they struggle to provide for their families. They are calling on the government to take action to improve the economy and make traveling more accessible to people. The inadequate income from transportation business is becoming a major concern as commercial drivers are faced with the challenge of providing for their families.
