Osun minibus drivers protest fuel price, ticket proceeds mismanagement

Osun state minibus drivers during protest. Photo: Bola Bamigbola

Operators of intra-city minibuses, popularly known as Korope, under the aegis of the Association of Korope Drivers, on Wednesday protested in Osogbo, Osun State, over the rising cost of fuel and alleged mismanagement of proceeds from daily tickets. The protest, which began early in the morning and ended around 2pm, disrupted transport services along some routes in the state capital, forcing some commuters to trek to their destinations. The drivers said the rising cost of petrol, coupled with increased prices of spare parts and food items, had made their operations increasingly unprofitable. The protesters converged on the popular Ayetoro Junction, where they parked their buses and prevented colleagues who declined to join the action from operating during the protest. Speaking with The PUNCH, a representative of the protesters, Abdulwasiu Osuolale, said the drivers were also unhappy with what they described as the mismanagement of proceeds from daily tickets collected by their union leaders. Osuolale said the drivers had resolved to increase fares on various routes within the state capital, urging the government to investigate how proceeds from the tickets were being utilised.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google He said, “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. “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.” According to the new fare structure released by the Association of Korope Drivers and obtained by The PUNCH during the protest, passengers on the shortest routes within the state capital will now pay a flat fare of N300. Make kidney care part of PHC programme, VC urges FG Imo flood renders residents stranded, transport fares soar Magun: Please pee in my mouth and save me 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, Old Garage, Okefia to Dada Estate, Olaiya to Dada Estate, and Ofatedo to Ido-Osun. Passengers travelling from Dagbolu to Ota-Efun, Testing Ground to Old Garage, Testing Ground to Oja-Oba, Biket, Powerline and Jaye to Old Garage, Ayetoro, Igbona and Olorunda to Ota-Efun, Ayetoro to Ogo-Oluwa, Oja-Oba to Owode Garage, Alakija and OSBC to Oja-Oba, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Bolanle/Dele, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Agunbelewo will pay N400. The N500 routes include Ota-Efun to Old Garage, Old Garage, Ola-Iya to Abere, Testing Ground to Ogo-Oluwa, Dagbolu 1 and 2 to Stadium and Testing Ground, Sasa to Okebaale to Oja-Oba, Oja-Oba to Osunjela, Igbona and Ayetoro to Dada Estate, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Ofatedo, and Old Garage, Olaiya and Okefia to Okinni. The association fixed the fare at N600 for Kobo to Old Garage, Ayetoro, Igbona to Abere, Old Garage and Ola-Iya to Owode, Ota-Efun to Oja-Oba, Testing Ground to Garage Ilesha, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia to Ido-Osun, and Owode-Ede to Olaiya and Okefia. Other 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 Ota-Efun to Owode-Ede and Owode-Ede to Bolanle and Dele Yes Sir will cost N1,000 per passenger. Kobo to Owode-Ede, listed as the longest route, will attract a fare of N1,200. Reacting to the development, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, a civil society organisation based in the state, Emmanuel Olowu, commended the drivers for ensuring that the protest did not disrupt public peace. Olowu said, “What the transporters did today is the best form of protest in a democracy. In a democracy, everybody has the right to express their grievance when aggrieved. Looking at their position, they are only planning to increase transport fares as a result of the high cost of petrol. “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.” Bola Bamigbola

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