By Wilson Adekumola
Commercial tricylists and taxi drivers on Friday clashed in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
According to Daily Post, it was gathered that the clash was as a result of the high transportation fare caused by the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.
The clash was said to have disrupted vehicular movements along the busy Oba Adesida/Oyemekun road.
The taxi drivers alleged commercial tricyclists of picking passengers below the fare set by the drivers’ union.
It was gathered that a trip from FUTA Northgate to Oja-Oba had been fixed at N300 by the drivers’ union as against the former price of N200 but the commercial motorcyclists continued with old price which did not go well with the taxi drivers.
As a result of this incident, the commercial drivers mobilised on the roads and began discharging passengers being conveyed by the commercial tricyclists, a situation which created tension and left many passengers, particularly workers who were on their way to work stranded as they resolved to use ‘okada’ to their offices and destinations.
The taxi drivers disclosed that they would be indebted if they allowed the commercial tricyclists to continue picking up passengers against the agreed price.
One of the taxi drivers, Lekan Oluduro, explained that they were not fighting the tricyclists but wanted to ensure they agreed to pick passengers at the new fixed rate, particularly since they now purchase petrol at N500 per litre.
According to him, “We have gathered ourselves here because passengers are not ready to pay the new prices of N300 or N200 per drop.
“Tricycle riders are taking passengers for N200 instead of N300.
Another driver, Sesan Akinkunmi, said they cannot make a daily balance of N4000 if they buy 30 litres a day for N15,000.
Some of the tricycle riders said since there was free competition, they would benefit from the slight price adjustments.
