Outcry over Lagos-Ibadan train fares
PIC.16. DIESEL MULTIPLE UNIT PASSENGER INTRA-CITY MASS TRANSIT TRAIN INAUGURATED BY VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO IN KADUNA ON TUESDAY (30/12/14). 6653/30/12/2014/SP/JAU/CH/NAN
Some Nigerians have express disapproval over the new fares announced by the federal government for the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge rail line, which begins operations today.
Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday gave a break down of the new price regime.
According to him, tickets for the route would now cost N3,000 for Economy Class,while the Business Class would be N5,000,and N6,000 for First Class.
Following the new tariff,many Nigerians have taken to the social media, especially Twitter, to express displeasure,calling the move anti-people.
Amaechi earlier said the fare increase corresponds with the going price on the Abuja to Kaduna route, which he said has been in operation since June 2017.
Nigerians are however urging the Federal Government to scale down the price, saying the Abuja-Kaduna route is longer than the Lagos-Ibadan, and that the former is used mostly by politicians and captains of industries.
The Lagos to Ibadan rail line they said is commonly used by the masses,many of who find the new fare unaffordable.
According to them, the fare for the Lagos-Ibadan, and vice versa, by road, is N1,000, which is far cheaper than the Economy Class ticket by rail.
A twitter user with the handle @Dekunle said rail transport is better if it offers more than the common rail service to enable the government get good patronage.
Ikechukwu, with the twitter handle @iykimo, asked a rhetorical question: “Isn’t rail transport the cheapest anymore? Lagos to Ibadan is N3k, N6k for executive suite.”
Yet, another Twitter user, AkureCityHunter, with the handle @AkureCityHunter, said: “I will pay N3k from Lagos to Ibadan and I’d still be in the economy? Well, that economy better have a PS5, free Netflix and some KFC delicacies.”
Also, Real HusbandMaterial, with the handle @AdorableProduct, did a comparison of the Lagos-Ibadan by road from Berger to Ibadan.
According to him, the journey costs between N2,000 and N2,500 for a car carrying three passengers, while park and pick (popularly called soo’le) is N1,000; a 14-seater passenger bus is N1,500, while an 18-seater bus collects between N700 and N1000.
Another critic, using @Naija_PR, said: “How can rail transport cost N3,000 from Lagos to Ibadan? Who are the people advising these ogas? Your closest competitor is road transport. Why can’t they cut this price by half? Half the price and you are in business.”