DELSU Keke Riders Hike Fare By 50%, Eye Another Increment

By Winner Enuma/Sophia Otuokpai 

Tricycle Riders at Delta State University’s Abraka Campus have increased intra-campus transport fares from N100 to N150, citing high fuel costs and maintenance expenses, with further increments planned after the post-UTME exams.

Chairman of the tricycle riders association, Mr. Cletus Abada, told DELSU Echo that the increment was necessitated by the rising cost of petrol.

Abada further attributed the fifty per cent increment to other expenses like engine oil maintenance and cost of tricycle spare parts.

“The cost of fuel has gone very high. When we were carrying N100, a litre of fuel was about N300, but as of today, a litere of fuel is being sold for N950 in Abraka”, he said in an interview in Abraka yesterday.

“One tire of this keke is sold for N35,000, as small as it is. Generally, it is not easy for a transporter to maintain his means of transportation.”

The Chairman also disclosed that the association intends to increase the fare to N200 after the post-UTME screening exercise, citing the need to make profit.

Abada stated, “Without this increment, we are at a loss because sometimes we can buy fuel N3,000 and earn N3,500; that is just N500 as profit.

”What can N500 do (in this economy)? Some of us have children in school and they are depending on us too.”

When questioned about potential student dissatisfaction regarding the fare increase, Abada urged understanding.

He acknowledged that the increased fares might lead to reduced patronage but asserted that continuing to charge N100 was not feasible.

“We appeal to them to try to reason with us on the need for this increment.

“If the price remains N100, it means we cannot cope with the business.”

DELSU Echo learnt that the Keke Riders’ Association was yet to meet with the Student Union Government (SUG) to discuss the fare adjustments.

However, Abada expressed hope that the union executives would recognize the necessity of the increment, given the rising costs facing all sectors of the economy.

President of the SUG at DELSU, Comr. Augustine Onovughegor could not be reached via his mobile phone at the time of filing this report.

However, DELSU Echo reports that Onovughegor has promised to radically promote the welfare of students and project their interest in all matters affecting them.

While appearing on a DELSU Echo weekly podcast, The Interview, the SUG President asserted that students are his primary constituents and would work assiduously to front their interests.

Meanwhile, a Delta State-based human rights activist, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to assume responsibility over the reconstruction of the dilapidated 70-kilometer Sapele-Abraka-Agbor road.

Bebenimibo, in an open letter to Oborevwori, insisted that the obvious neglect of the road by successive administrations in the state is totally unjustifiable.