Roads users in Imo State are in some cases witnessing more than 100% increase in transport fare in January.
OtownGist gathered that earlier in December there was a little increase in transport fare across the state because of the festive period, but the recent outrageous increase is nothing anyone has ever seen before.
We discovered that on Tuesday, passengers paid between N1000 to N1500 from Amaraku to Owerri, which used to go for between N250 and N350.
On Wednesday drivers were charging N1000 from Owerri to Orlu which used to be half that price at N500. A passenger also confirmed that the price had gone as high as N1500 earlier in the New Year.
Drivers complained that bad road and traffic are their reasons with Owerrii to Amaraku that used to take about 30 minutes now taking more than two hours.
“In some cases the distance is doubled or tripled”, a driver said, adding that instead of the straight route of Owerri-Okigwe road, they would have to ply through community roads to get to areas where the gridlock is either fair or absent.
Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road is not left out in the fair hike and traffic situation causing road users to frown and in most cases the gridlocks are caused by indigenes who often partially block the road during a ceremony as well careless driving by most car owners.
Orlu-Owerri road where asphalting has commenced on Wednesday is very dusty and the rough nature of the road also means drivers cannot speed causing more delay for travelers.
Owerri-Okigwe road is known for multiple gridlocks in Akabo, Atta and Amaraku which triple the time for travelers.
“Akabo is like an abandoned area in Imo. It is as if the government has no plans to fix it as it has been like for years”, a passenger told us.
She however called on the state government to do something urgently to save the poor situation of major roads in the state.
Governor Hope Uzodimma during the Stakeholders meeting had announced the commencement of road construction in the state, stating that about 90 roads have been completed or under construction across the state.
It is also worthy to note that despite the serious traffic situation on these roads, no Traffic Warden or Police Officer was permanently deployed to save the situation.
