The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Kaduna State has observed a significant drop in the number of travelers, by over 50 percent, as the Yuletide season approaches.
Malam Bature Suleiman, the Secretary of NUTRW in the state, made this disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday.
Suleiman attributed this trend to the exorbitant cost of transportation, primarily driven by the hike in fuel prices.
He highlighted that people are now opting to send goods and messages to their families instead of traveling. This shift has led to a noticeable accumulation of vehicles at motor parks, waiting for passengers.
According to Suleiman, individuals are constrained by financial limitations and are choosing to travel only when absolutely necessary, resorting to dispatching messages as an alternative.
He emphasized that commercial drivers are operating under financial strain due to the unfavorable economic conditions, compounded by increased fuel prices, poor road infrastructure, and government policies that are detrimental to the transportation sector.
Further, Suleiman lamented the burden of multiple taxes imposed on NURTW members, characterizing the situation as exceedingly onerous.
He raised concerns about the escalating operational costs, which diminish the income of drivers, rendering their efforts futile.
