The Chairman of the Osogbo Local Government Mini Bus Operators, popularly known as Korope, Musibau Olalekan, has clarified reports of an increase in transport fares across Osogbo, saying the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, is working to prevent any further increase.
A list was circulated earlier in the week by some transport members announcing increase in fares.
Olalekan made the clarification while addressing journalists at the Old Garage area of Osogbo on Friday, following the circulation of a purported transport fare circular on social media.
He said although there had been discussions about an increase in Korope fares, the NURTW Chairman in Osun State, Alhaji Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, was opposed to the move and had instead proposed the establishment of designated bus stops across the state capital.
According to Olalekan, the proposed bus stops are expected to make transportation easier and provide passengers with fixed fares, particularly on routes such as Olaiya to Owode-Ede.
He said the NURTW leadership believed that a fare of N500 for the Olaiya-Owode-Ede route was reasonable, while stressing that the union was seeking ways to prevent passengers from bearing additional costs.
“We don’t want to increase it again and that is why we want to have bus stops, which will make it easy for people. Once you board a bus at an appropriate quarter, the price is fixed,” Olalekan said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Olorunda Local Government Mini Bus Operators, Wasiu Olaegbe, said members of the union under Asiri Eniba had rejected any proposed fare increase.
Olaegbe alleged that the circular being circulated on social media was produced by individuals he claimed were opposed to the current NURTW administration and were seeking to create confusion within the union especially the members loyal to Accord Party
“We, the members of NURTW under Asiri Eniba, did not accept the increment propapagated by members of Accord Party and he has directed us to create a bus stop at Olaiya to make transportation easier for everyone and to let peace reign,” he said.
Olaegbe urged residents to disregard the circulating fare list, maintaining that there had been no approved increase in the fares being charged by Korope operators.
“We totally condemn the list circulating around. Our transport fare remains as it is without increment,” he said.