NEWS
Delta Transport Operators Protest Fee Hike, Ground Commercial Activities
Delta Transport Operators Protest Fee Hike, Ground Commercial Activities
Okada and tricycle operators protest increased daily tickets and annual stickers in Delta State.
Daily ticket rises from ₦400 to ₦1,000, while annual sticker fee jumps from ₦3,000 to ₦12,500.
Protest leaves commuters stranded in Warri, Effurun and Udu.
Rising transport costs reflect a wider national crisis, with commuters across several states facing sharp fare increases driven by higher fuel prices.
Operators appeal to the Delta State Government to review the charges.
Channel
November 15, () – Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in Delta State have grounded their services in protest against increased daily ticket charges and annual operating stickers, leaving commuters stranded in parts of the state.
The protest, which took place in Warri, Effurun and Udu Local Government Areas, followed an increase in daily tickets from ₦400 to ₦1,000 and annual stickers from ₦3,000 to ₦12,500.
The development has further highlighted the growing pressure on Nigeria’s transport sector, where commuters across several states are grappling with steep increases in fares amid rising fuel prices and the high cost of vehicle maintenance.
Although the Delta protest centres on government-imposed charges, transport operators and passengers elsewhere in the country are also bearing the consequences of escalating operating costs, with fares on some routes rising by more than 1,000 per cent compared with previous rates.
The striking operators, popularly known as Okada and Keke riders, withdrew their services, forcing residents to trek long distances to their workplaces and other destinations.
One of the protesting riders, Emmanuel Akpore, described the increase as unbearable, saying operators were already struggling to cope with the harsh economic conditions.
He said the daily ticket charge had risen from ₦400 to ₦1,000, while the annual sticker fee had increased from ₦3,000 to ₦12,500.
Another operator, Musa Bello, said the additional charges would worsen the financial difficulties of riders, who were already contending with expensive spare parts and rising household expenses.
He appealed to the state government to reconsider the increases, warning that the charges could force some operators out of business.
A commuter, Charity Emeke, said she was forced to walk a considerable distance with her two children after discovering that commercial motorcycles were unavailable.
She urged the government to consider the difficulties faced by both transport operators and passengers in taking decisions that affect public transportation.
The annual sticker fee reportedly covers the provision of identity cards, waste baskets, customised jackets and security profiling of operators.
Tension reportedly heightened during the protest as some striking riders allegedly confronted colleagues who attempted to continue operating, compelling them to discharge their passengers and join the demonstration.
The state Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, was unavailable for comment as of the time of filing this report.
The protest comes against the backdrop of a nationwide transportation crisis, with rising fuel prices and other operating expenses increasingly making daily commuting unaffordable for many Nigerians.
