Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and its environs have expressed concern over the newly increased fares for commercial minibuses, popularly known as Korope, describing the development as another burden on their finances.
The reaction followed the release of a new fare list by the Association of Korope Drivers after the drivers staged a peaceful protest in the city on Wednesday over the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.
NAIJAONPOINT reports that under the new fare structure, the least fare for a trip within Osogbo was increased to ₦300, while some longer routes now attract between ₦400 and ₦1,200, depending on the distance.
Reacting to the development, some residents said the increase would further worsen the financial pressure on low-income earners, who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
A social media user, @ItsMideBrown, said the increase would make life more difficult for workers earning low salaries, noting that transport expenses alone could consume a significant portion of their monthly income.
“Tell me, how is someone earning 50k per month supposed to survive in this economy? Transport alone can be 500 going and 500 coming back, that’s already 1,000 in a day,” the user wrote.
Another user, @FERANMI, lamented the situation, saying, “Omoh ontop 30k salary,” while @COWBELL joked that the development could force workers to reduce the number of days they report to the office.
Some residents also questioned the justification for the new fares. @Golden Starr compared the intra-city fares with interstate transportation, asking why a trip from Osogbo to Offa could cost about ₦2,000 while some journeys within Osogbo were becoming increasingly expensive.
Similarly, @LMD_OLAMINE criticised the new fare structure, saying it could worsen the hardship faced by residents, while @El Abiola called for the establishment of designated bus stops or converging parks to make fixed fares more workable.
Other residents expressed frustration over the rising cost of living. @PIKOHHAIR GROWTH IN OSUN said the development was “time to lose some weight,” while @OLAF LEATHER WORKS simply urged residents to resort to trekking.
Meanwhile, @BÕLÛWÃTIFÊ questioned whether the new fare list was genuine, asking, “Hope say nah joke abeg,” while @BIG TINNY described the situation as another indication of the economic hardship in the country.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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