Gbenro Adesina
As Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) commences commercial operation on the Lagos-Ibadan route, Nigerians, particularly, people of the South West have condemned the exorbitant fare to be charged for the route.
Nigerians described the high cost of rail fare as wicked, insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, saying that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has sufficiently demonstrated its poise to continue to impoverished the Nigerian masses.
According to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the train ticket would cost between N3,000 to N6,000.
Nigerians wondered why the train fare will be high in Nigeria when it is the cheapest means of transportation in other countries. They said that while train services are meant for the poor and average people all over the world, it is meant for the rich in Nigeria.
However, some Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent said that they would continue to travel by road transport because it is cheaper, saying with N1000 or less at times, the journey is made.
“Ordinarily, if the road is good, travelling from Lagos to Ibadan is one hour. So, the question is that why will Lagos-Ibadan cost as much as between N3000 and N6000 if not that Nigerian leaders are wicked, ungoldy and devil’s agents sent to inflict pains on the people. Where is this kind of thing done in the world? Many people have not been able to afford transport fare of N1000 and that is why you will see people standing on the road to look for vehicles that will carry them and collect maybe N500. Is this the change Buhari and Tinubu promised us?God will judge them all”, a woman said.
Chris Adex said: “The train fare is definitely not for a middle class Nigerian who is now a 3rd class Nigeria”.
Fabunmi Marcus said: “Is like you don’t know how much we borrowed, in fact, if not for the fact that APC federal government pitied us, it was initially gazzetted for 15k per trip”.
Lamenting, Babalola Oladipo said, “The most pitiable part of it is that people won’t patronize the scheme if the fare isn’t reviewed and they will still end up borrowing a whooping amount for its maintenance”.
