The transport sector is a vital and very important one in the economy of any Country or Nation. The sector if properly managed also generates a lot of revenue and remains one of the parameters used in assessing the success or failure of any government.

The land, rain, air and water are the media the media through which people are conveyed from one destination to the other with the land (road) as the most common and most patronised especially in the continent of Africa.

However, construction of good rural and urban roads as well as smooth express/high ways have been one of the major demands from the masses and one of the many promises of  politicians during their campaign exercises bearing in mind that the public see the non-existence of good roads as one of the many challenges in the continent. Meanwhile, road transportation is not the safest based on records with its causes often attributed to either the bad state of roads, recklessness of drivers or vehicles that are not roadworthy.

In many parts of Africa, the festive periods ranging from New Year Celebration, Eid-il-fitir, Easter, Eid-il-Moulud, Eid-il-Kabir, Christmas etc. which are often declared as public holidays are often the busiest times for road users due to the movement of people from one town or city to another in a bid to celebrate and felicitate with their friends and families.

Alas! Most commercial transporters or commercial drivers see those festive periods as their ‘Harvest time’. The usual practise is the inflation of transport fare by a 100%, 200%, or even 300% which tends to enrich the purses of the commercial transporters to the detriment of the masses. This arbitrary hike in price but just an unchecked attitude of drivers who tend to forget that the poor masses are always the ones who bear the brunt while the rich or above average individuals simply cruise in their luxury cars or fly via different airline to their destinations with more convenience and lesser risks.

The wonton high cost of transportation during festive periods without cause remains a questionable act that is now considered as a norm but the basic fact is: this is simply a case of ‘The poor (drivers who are still deemed as lower class citizens) oppressing the poor’ (the struggling masses).

Therefore, every ill act does not start and end with the government afterall, it is evident that even amongst the poor, extortion still exists.

Meanwhile, it is advised that the government can help check this act of exploitation by engaging relevant regulatory bodies to address this situation so that the masses will not continue to suffer in silence.

“This is really a food for thought.”

                                                                   By Patrick ‘Wole Sotomi