Bayelsa State Government has announced new fare rates for intra-state transportation.
This was contained in a letter dated April 25 and signed by The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Transport, Grace Ayakpo Ekiotenne.
The letter also banned transporters from carrying arms of any sort.
Ekiotenne warned that defaulters would be prosecuted according to the law.
It read:
“GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
“Arising from series of crucial meetings held by the Honourable Commissioner for Transport with members of the three (3) Gazatted Road Transport Unions (NURTW, RTEAN, TOAN), SUG, CDC and Youth Presidents ( Amassoma, Toru-Orua, Sagbama and Otuoke) on the issue of high prices in transportation; it was agreed that going forward:
“1. Tricycle (Keke) Operators are to charge fifty naira (N50) for short distances ( i.e a distance of every two communities) and one hundred naira ( N100) for long distances
“2. Transporters plying the Yenagoa to Amassoma route are to charge six hundred naira (N600) for car, five hundred naira (N500) for Sienna, four hundred naira (N400) for 14-Seater Bus and three hundred naira (N300) for Coaster Bus.
“3. Transporters plying the Yenagoa to Otuoke route are to charge five hundred naira (N500) for car/ Sienna.
“4. Transporters plying the Yenagoa to Sagbama route are to charge seven hundred naira ( N700) for car/sienna, six hundred naira ( N600) for 14-Seater Bus.
“5. Transporters plying the Yenagoa to Toru-Orua route are to charge one thousand five hundred naira ( N1,500) for Car/ Sienna.
“6. All Transporters including Tricycle (Keke) operators are banned from either carrying or in possession of any weapon ( knife, dagger, axe, cutlass, etc) as any defaulter would be arrested and prosecuted in the court of law.
“7. All Transporters are to obey all Road Traffic rules and laws as any defaulter would be arrested and prosecuted in the court of law.
“8. All Transporters must have manifest of all passengers boarding the vehicles before departing for their destinations as defaulters will be arrested and prosecuted in the court of law.
“All Transporters should strictly comply with this directive.”
