By Our reporters
The astronomical hike in air transport fare in the country, has now forced passengers to turn road transportation alternative despite the worrying security challenge.
Sahelian Times has observed a heavy traffic along the Kano-Kaduna-Abuja Road which was hitherto disserted by most commuters as a result of the dangerous activities of bandits.
Many passengers interviewed by our correspondent disclosed that they have no option than to resort to road transportation from Kano to Abuja or Kano to Lagos as the air ticket is highly prohibitive for their incomes.
Airlines in the country have jacked up the cost of flight tickets by almost 100% to 150% making it too expensive for a low and medium income earners to afford.
The ticket of the 45-minute flight from Kano to Abuja has been increased to as high as N130, 000 from just N50,000 while that of Kano to Lagos cost N170,000 and above.
A university don who prefers ananimomity said it took him almost a week searching for a reduced price, but he still got a return ticket to Lagos at N200, 000.
Checks at motor parks in Kano and Kaduna revealed that, unlike in previous days where they recorded low patronage, the parks have been witnessing an influx of passengers to Abuja and other places south of the River Niger.
“As you could see, in every 10 to 20 minutes interval a vehicle full with passengers leaves for Abuja from this ‘garage’ from as early as 5:30 am till evening time, ” said Ibrahim an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Command Junction Motor Park in Kaduna.
At Naibawa and other motor parks like Unguwa Uku and Tashar Rami all in Kano, drivers are happy with increasing high flow of passengers.
Meanwhile, our correspondent has observed a significant presence of security personnel stationed strategically at no distance interval with heavy and sophisticated weapons in readiness for the bandits and other criminals along Abuja-Kano Dual Carriage Way.
The presence of these joint security operatives has given solace to motorists on the safety of the Kano – Kaduna – Abuja highway.
