Osogbo minibus drivers protest rising fuel costs

Commercial minibus drivers, known locally as Korope operators, staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday to protest rising petrol costs. The drivers expressed that high fuel expenses have made their operations increasingly unprofitable, with some reporting daily fuel expenditures of up to N40,000 while earning minimal net income.

As a result of the price hikes, drivers announced an increase in transport fares, stating that the minimum cost per drop will rise to N300. The operators appealed to both the Federal and Osun State governments for intervention, specifically requesting easier access to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce operational costs. They noted a willingness to convert vehicles to CNG if government support for the transition is provided.

Kazeem Oyewale, the factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State, met with driver leaders to discuss their grievances. He acknowledged that the fuel crisis is a national issue and assured the drivers that their concerns would be addressed.