By Jimitota Onoyume

Warri – Commercial tricycle riders, Wednesday, staged a protest in Warri and Uvwie local government areas over the scarcity of fuel and the astronomic hike in its pump price.

They marched through Deco, Airport roads, denouncing the unbearable cost of a litre of fuel at filling stations.

As of the time of this report, the few filling stations dispensing fuel sold at N1,200 and N1,300 per litre while many did not open for business.

Commuters were seen grumbling over the high cost of transportation. A keke drop from Jakpa junction to Estate that was recently between N250, N300  rose to N500, N600.  The hike in transport fares affected all routes in the twin cities with the Keke operators insisting on N150 for any short distance.

Some of the protesters said the sudden hike in the pump price of fuel had also impacted negatively on their operations with many pedestrians that would have patronized them preferring to trek long distances.

“We are not making gains anymore, the fuel price is too high while the purchasing power among the populace is very low. We see many passengers trekking instead of joining Keke “, one of them who gave his name as Onoriode said.

Another rider who gave his name as Fred said the situation had become intolerable, adding that most times Keke riders will cover long distances with only one passenger. “This is not good business anymore. You will see a Keke riding for long before getting a passenger because people don’t have money to enter Keke “.

Some pedestrians who spoke to the Vanguard supported the protest by the Keke operators. Madam Janet residing at a street off  Enerhen junction said schools would resume next week, she had been thinking of how her children could be regular in school.

” My Children attend a school at Deco road, I have been thinking of how they can be regular in school. We live at a street off Enerhen junction. Most Keke now insist on N200 as fares to the school from Enerhen junction.”

Vanguard gathered that from Effurun round about to Enerhen junction is between N500 and N600.

The high cost of transportation has also triggered a rise in the prices of food at restaurants with many selling a plate for as high as N4000.