By Taye Obateru
Jos: Transport fares have risen by a hundred per cent in Plateau State following the removal of subsidy and the increase in the price of petrol generating outcries from citizens.

Residents condemned the policy which they said was out to inflict further hardship on Nigerians most of whom are already suffering.

Intra and inter-city transport fares were affected with some of the drivers charging more than double the old fare for long distances.

Most filling stations in the state capital did not open to the public but the few that opened sold petrol at between N140 and N141 per litre while the NNPC Mega Station sold for N138 a litter.

Many residents have resorted to trekking long distances saying they could not afford the new fares. Taxis and buses now charge between N100 and N150 per drop from the former N50 while commercial motorcycles have also doubled their fares.

A petty trader at the Farin Gada vegetable market expressed her frustration over the development wondering how she would cope with the new charges. “it is going to be difficult for me. It was not easy even with the old  fares not to talk of now that the whole thing has doubled. Government should consider us the poor”, she said.

Motorists buying fuel at one of the filling stations also expressed frustration that the Federal Government went ahead with the removal of subsidy without considering the plight of Nigerians just struggling to make ends meet.

They appealed for a review of the policy as according to them, the spiral effect will be too much for ordinary Nigerians to bear.