There seems to be no end to the continuous degradation of the living standards of Nigerians.
Nigerians now put up the armour to struggle for survival, despite the increasing rise in the cost of goods and services limiting their purchasing powers.
Every sphere of life is being mercilessly utilised, just to put food on the table, as that is the most important agenda on the table of all.
The days when you see a car on the highway, thinking it is an individual, or a family embarking on a journey home, are no more.
Economy and lifestyle discovered that occupants of such cars, these days, are passengers embarking on inter-state journeys.
Further investigation revealed that such cars were owned by individuals who registered them under a transportation company for business purposes.
Some of these individuals have lost their jobs and needed a means to survive while some has added it as a side hustle.
These sets of individuals just register their cars and collect an agreed amount monthly.
Explaining the process, Mr. David Kareem, an interstate driver, said that some transport companies had also given private car owners the opportunity to adopt this new trend as many have sold their buses due to lack of passengers and adopted the use of cars to save time and money.
“Private cars like jeep and sienna are now used for interstate journeys. Most of the cars are not owned by transport companies. Some individuals bring their cars to the company and register it under the company as a public business asset.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has made many Nigerians cut down on interstate travels.“Before, some of these transport companies used mini and luxurious buses to run the business.Related NewsKaduna abduction: 137 school children abducted, not 287 — Gov Uba SaniDelta killing: My children will never join military – Widow of late Colonel AliPolice arrest suspected cultist with 155 live ammunition, four local weapons
“But many have sold these buses and purchased few cars to run the business. Some transport companies are no more. Why? Because of low patronage of passengers due to the high cost of transportation caused by fuel subsidy removal.“This did not also increase patronage.
“As you can see, I am filling the remaining unbooked space in the car with goods for way bills.“Many of us using our cars for this business have either lost our jobs or just wanted another side hustle to make ends meet.”
Mr. Efosa Ighiadolor, another interstate bus driver said: “Since the removal of the subsidy on petrol, the transportation business has continued to diminish.
“You can hardly fill up a car of 8 seats with passengers today.
“This was the main reason why most companies that are now using the Sienna model and Toyota Jeeps for public transport, to get 8 passengers instead of waiting for hours to fill a sixteen seats bus.
“This car is mine. I registered for it after I lost my job last year.
“I give the transport company 5 per cent of my daily sales and spend up to N50,000 for fuel.“At the end of the day, I am left with nothing.
“Those times when vehicles are owned by transport companies are no more.
“Many of these companies have folded up due to this subsidy palava because people reduced their interstate travels due to the high cost of transportation.
“They now send items or equipment instead. Those business men and women are not left out.
“Whenever a passenger arrives at a park and discovers that a mini bus has 8 passengers on the ground while a car has five passengers.
“They go for the car even when there is an increase in its price compared to that of the bus.
“It is not that they are rich but they are time conscious.”
Mrs. Jane Udofia, a passenger enroute Auchi to Lagos said the era where passengers board mini buses for interstate journeys is gradually fading out.
“Passengers no longer board mini buses for interstate journeys since the introduction of cars in these transport companies, especially in areas like Edo State and other neighbouring states.
“I am an example of such passengers, I do travel a lot and I reside in Edo State.
“The transport fare from my place to Lagos for a mini bus of 18 passengers is N15,000 while that of a car is N16,000.
“Knowing how long it takes to fill a mini bus, I go for the car instead.
“I can’nt wait for it to be filled up as the time I would waste boarding a bus can be utilized for other things.”