Economy

Travellers in Christmas Rush Amidst Fuel Price Hike

By Web News 506

Despite the hike and scarcity of fuel in the country, many motor parks in Akure the Ondo state capital still witness an influx of passengers travelling for the Christmas and new year holidays.

Our reporter, who visited some of the motor parks reports that with the transport sector is seriously affected by the hike in fuel prices where even petrol stations now sell at #300 per litre and getting the product becoming a Herculean task, yet the business activities around the parks were still lively.

As early as four o’clock in the morning business activities resumed in major motor parks in Akure with passengers moving in with their luggage to travel to different destinations for the Yuletide.

At the popular Ondo motor park, travellers who spoke with Radio Nigeria lamented the state of the country’s economy which had badly affected the transport sector.

One of them, Mr Yusuf Oluremi complained about the hike in transport fares.

Another passenger at cathedral motor park Akure Mrs Adetutu Adinlewa said she was travelling because it was an aged long tradition of her family to have a reunion during Christmas hence her defying all challenges to be with the rest of the family.

She appealed to the government to address the current fuel scarcity to ease the burden on the masses.

A commercial driver, Mr Joseph Adekunle however said, many people avoided travelling due to insecurity on the roads and the present economic challenges.

Meanwhile, Ondo state sector commander of the FRSC , Mr Ezikiel son Allah reminded drivers to shun night journeys and overspeeding to avoid crashes.

Radio Nigeria gathered that all transport fares had been jacked up, as Akure to Lagos is now four thousand five hundred, Akure to Ado Ekiti now goes for two thousand nairas, Akure to Owo , one thousand nairas while Akure to Ibadan is between two thousand five hundred and three thousand nairas.

Isaac Afolabi

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News

Accident: Shop Owners, Travellers, Escape Death In Ondo

By Web News 793

Some shop owners and travellers on Thursday escaped death when an Ondo bound vehicle rammed into shops at the popular Adebowale junction on Ondo road, Akure in Ondo state.

An eyewitness, Mr Lanre Ojurongbe said the vehicle, a sienna bus which was fully loaded with passengers was heading to Ondo town when a motorcycle suddenly showed up from the old Aponmu road and crossed the highway.

According to Mr Ojurongbe, the driver of the Ondo bound vehicle in the bid not to hit the motorcycle rammed into shops at the Adebowale junction as he was on top speed.

Even though no life was lost, but, some of the travellers sustained injuries and were immediately taken to a nearby clinic.

Some residents around the Adebowale area and passersby appealed to the federal government to construct road breakers on the Akure- Ondo road to prevent overspeeding.

Lanre Oluwateru

Transportation

Lifting of Interstate Lockdown: Business Owners, Transporters, Express Relief

By Web News 729

Reactions have continued to trail the lifting of the ban on interstate travels after four months of lockdown by federal government to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, an interstate driver in Ibadan, Mr Don Richard said they would be able to work freely without any threat from security operatives while such would also guarantee a reduction in transport fare.

Mr Richard expressed the hope that the drivers would follow laid down safely rules by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Two male travelers, Alhaji Wasiu Adegboyega and Mr Toyese Esan said the lifting of the ban would put an end to the trouble they usually encounter every weekend whenever they planned to visit their families in Ibadan.

Another business owner in Ibadan who shuttles between Lagos and Ibadan for transactions, appreciated the Government and promised to abide by the use of nose masks and sanitiser in order not to contract Covid-19.

The respondent equally wants governments to fashion out effective modalities to ease the pressure the pandemic has brought on other sectors of the economy.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari banned interstate movement in March this year to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

Rasheedah Makinde

Security

Border Shutdown: Travellers From Sokoto Intercepted in Ibadan

By Web News 763

Officers of the Nigeria Police have apprehended eleven travellers from Sokoto, who defied the inter-state lockdown order of the Oyo State Government in their bid to sneak into Akure, Ondo State.

Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has however declared that the travellers would not be released to the Sokoto State Government until they undergo Covid-19 tests.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa says the government has begun Covid-19 tests for the travellers and would be remain isolated until the outcome of results of their Covid-19 tests.

Governor Makinde also explained that he was in touch with the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and that the travellers would be sent back to Sokoto State.

The governor maintained that governors in the country were still discussing on how to enforce the inter-state lockdown throughout the country so as to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

In his response during the interrogation, the driver of the bus, who identified himself as Muhammad Idris said they passed through old roads and bushes from Sokoto to Niger and Kwara and then got into Ogbomoso, from where they entered Ibadan.

He added that they were going to Akure to reconcile with their family members.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Sina Olukolu, who briefed Governor Makinde on his arrival at the Gbagi Police Station, where the culprits were detained said that the travellers were apprehended at the Asejire Dam axis of the Ibadan-Osun boundary.

Members of the medical team of the COVID-19 Task Force were readily on hand to administer COVID-19 tests on the travellers to determine their status.

Iyabo Adebisi