Some Commuters have groaned over gridlocks on various expressways caused by multiple checkpoints and roadblocks by security agencies and tax agents within the South East geopolitical zone.
The commuters blamed the high cost of transportation to the roadblocks and the extortions by the security agencies and the tax agents.
A regular commuter, David Uzonna, based in Awka, said road blocks were a major challenge they faced in their daily operations.
He said there were 19 roadblocks between the 100 kilometres Awka-Enugu road.
“The extortion that goes on at the road blocks and delays were partly responsible for the increase in transport fares.
“An 18-seater bus that used to cost N3,000 was now between N4,000 and N4,500, while Sienna vehicle that used to cost N5,000 and N6,000 per trip, now cost N7,000,” he said.
Uzonna said the condition of the road was better but what would have been gained was lost to gridlock caused by the security checkpoints.
He urged the south east governors to intervene and reduce the number of checkpoints within the region to hasten movement and also boost economic activities.
An Europe-based Mrs Ifeoma Agueze, who returned for the Christmas with her family members, said she spent almost 10 hours on the Abuja-Enugu due to numerous checkpoints and bad roads.
“Traveling in Nigeria either by road or by air is chaotic and frustrating. I left Abuja with a Sienna by 7am, we met some checkpoints from Nasarawa but on getting to Otukpa, the roadblocks increased till we got to Enugu by 7.30pm.
“In fact, I lost count of the checkpoints mounted by different groups including the soldiers, police, Road Safety, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), and the agriculture produce team. This is a journey that is supposed to be for six hours.
“They would not only stop and search vehicles but would also demand for money forcefully from drivers and if you fail to play ball, they would delay you for hours,” she said.
It is a similar situation on Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Owerri-Port Harcourt Enugu-Okigwe-Owerri roads where passengers are sometimes asked to come down from the vehicle and walk past the checkpoints before joining their vehicles.
Some commercial drivers who narrated their experiences, said they spend between N2,000 and N100,000 depending on the route and the vehicle.
A commercial driver who plies between Enugu and Port Harcourt, Dominic Nwuda, said he spent between N3,000 and N5,000 to bribe the police and soldiers on the road.
According to him, “that is why we increase our fares to cover such expenses. If you do not comply, they will ask you to offload the luggage in your vehicle and seize your vehicle documents until you give them money.”
A truck driver, simply called Ahmed, who conveys foodstuffs from Adamawa to the East, said their major obstacle was the Agric produce team especially from Obollo Afor in Enugu State to Abia and Rivers states.
“They collect as much as N10,000 at every stop after checking the foodstuffs and livestock of every truck,” he said.
He said it was a different situation while traveling from Adamawa to Lagos where they paid only once to the union.
Meanwhile, commuters have lamented the high transportation fares, describing it as “a difficult situation” for the Christmas and new year celebrations.
Some travellers said the fare was higher compared to the previous years, calling on the state government and other relevant agencies to prevail on the situation.
A traveller at Ebonyi Transport Services (EBOTRANS) Mrs Mercy Okoro, said the situation was difficult.
Okoro, who was to travel with her four kids to Umuahia, Abia state said she could no longer embark on the journey due to the higher fare.
A driver, Clement Nwafor, said the cost of traveling from Abakaliki to Afikpo is N2, 500 and Onicha, Ohaozara local government areas is N2, 500 respectively.
“This is what we have been collecting since the year began.”
On checkpoints, Nwafor, said it was not common in Ebonyi state, stating that there were only three checkpoints from the security agencies along the Abakaliki-Afikpo road.
“We don’t normally meet checkpoints within the state. You can find such along the highways like, Abakaliki-Enugu expressway, Enugu-Onitsha among others.”
Transport operators in Enugu metropolis have also increased their fares within the city as residents make final shopping for the Christmas celebrations.
