Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has taken measures to cushion the impact of the recent fuel price hike on citizens.

He warned transporters against exploiting the public and announced the provision of 100 brand new 18-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to transport unions.

The governor also inaugurated an enforcement committee to regulate transport fares and ensure fair pricing.

“The plans that we have as a state government, our plans are to, in the first instance, make 100 buses—100 18-seater buses—available to our transport unions.

These will be 100 brand new CNG buses, and these buses will be brand buses, not no-name buses. We are talking about Toyota Hiace buses that we will give to you under a purchase agreement,” Governor Abiodun said.

He emphasized that the recent fuel price increase should not lead to astronomical rises in transport fares, urging transporters to consider the impact on the public.

“We’ve seen in the past that when there is a change in pump prices by maybe 10%, we have noticed that our transporters also naturally increase fares because the cost of their operational equipment—be it motorcycles, tricycles, trucks, or buses—is impacted.

“What we’ve noticed is that when there is a change in the pricing of petroleum products by 10% to 20%, the impact that we see play out at times is like 2000%, and we want to dialogue to ensure the people are not stretched.”

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The Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, reminded transporters that fuel is just a component of their transportation cost and urged them to do all within their power to ensure that the people of the state are not over-stretched.

“Fuel is just one of the components of your transportation cost, please do all within your power to ensure that the people of the state are not over-stretched.”

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, disclosed that the increase in PMS isn’t such that should warrant the remarkable increase in the cost of transportation and called on transporters in the state to look at the possibility of having a more friendly transport fare regime.

“The increase in PMS isn’t such that should warrant the remarkable increase in the cost of transportation, please look at the possibility of having a more friendly transport fare regime.”

Speaking on behalf of the transport heads, the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Samsudeen Apelogun, commended Governor Abiodun for revolutionizing the transport sector with the establishment of the Ministry of Transportation and the introduction of the E-mobility program.

“We commend Governor Abiodun for revolutionizing the transport sector with the establishment of the Ministry of Transportation and the introduction of the E-mobility program. We promise to call the stakeholders together and come up with a more friendly transport fare that is within our control,” he said.