Kwara motorcyclists protest fuel price hike as gov t deploys buses

Commercial activities were grounded in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on Thursday as commercial vehicle, tricycle and motorcycle operators protested the Tuesday increase in fuel price.

The protesters blocked the major roads including Abdulazeez Attah which leads from Geri Alimi Oja Oba, Taiwo/Post Office, Post Office/Maraba/Zango roads thus preventing vehicular movement and disrupted commercial activities in the metropolis.

Although, some of the commercial vehicles operated early in the morning, but at about noon, those working were forced to stop while many commuters were seen in groups at bus stations waiting for vehicles to their destinations.

“We are buying fuel at N1,200 per litre. We cannot get money to feed our family after fueling our vehicle with N1,200 per litre.

” President Tinubu should reverse the fuel price to N200 where he met it if he still wants Nigeria to exist,” some of them said as they matched on the streets.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has directed the immediate deployment of buses to different parts of the metropolis to ease the movement of commuters.

“The buses are to take people to the most central destinations free of charge. We hope that persons attending the SUBEB job placement interviews would find this helpful, particularly in the metropolis,” a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said on Thursday.

The statement further said that the governor also appealed to transporters and members of the public to exercise patience over the new fuel price hike, saying different government stakeholders are reviewing the situation with public good as a top priority.

“The inconveniences are regretted, and we are confident that things will ease as soon as possible,” it added.

The Punch