CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A socio-cultural organization, Igbonine Great People’s Assembly (IGPA), has frowned at the high cost of travelling to the Southeastern part of Nigeria by road and air as the prices continue to rise on daily basis due to the Christmas festival.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the National President, Dr Ugochukwu Nnajiofor, has strongly condemned the astronomical and unjustifiable cost of travelling to Igbo States by road and by air, describing the situation as worrisome and totally unacceptable.
This was contained in the statement signed by Dr Ugochukwu Nnajiofor on the predicament of Ndigbo travelling to the Eastern part of Nigeria.
It stated:
“Igbonine Great People’s Assembly has noted the exorbitant fares charged by road transport operators and domestic airlines servicing the Eastern corridor, and who are Igbo Indigenes.”
“The transporters have placed undue hardships on Ndigbo, particularly traders, students, civil servants, and families who depend on regular Eastern travels for one reason or the other.”
“The situation has exacerbated unwarranted hardship, restricted mobility, and weakened family and cultural ties for those who travel home once in a year.”
“The Assembly however, attributed the situation to poor road infrastructure, insecurity, limited flight options, and alleged exploitative pricing by transporters.”
“IGPA called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to urgently rehabilitate major roads, improve security, regulate airfares, and expand flight operations to the East.”
The group urged stakeholders to act swiftly in the interest of fairness, economic development and national unity.
P.M.EXPRESS investigation revealed that so far, the prices for traveling to the Southeastern part of Nigeria has doubled depending on transport companies involved. A Toyota Sienna bus is collecting from Lagos to the Southeast between N90,000 and N100, 000 depending on the state.
The normal buses collect between N60,000 and N75,000 while the airlines have also increased their costs in the name of festive season, which may affect the celebration of Christmas in the Southeastern states.