Review Of Transport Fare: The Stress and The Distress (I)

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Jolaade Ifeoluwayimika

The recent decision to increase transportation fees within the school premises has sparked some discontent amongst students. The hike, which was implemented without prior consultation with students, has had far-reaching consequences that have affected not only the students but also the tricycle drivers and the overall school environment.

One of the most significant impacts of the transportation fees hike has been the disruption of the transportation system within the school. Prior to the increase, tricycle drivers were willing to transport students to their various faculties without much hassle. However, with the new fees in place, tricycle drivers have become more selective about the passengers they carry, often refusing to transport students who are traveling short distances. This has resulted in students being forced to wait for extended periods, sometimes up to 20 or 30 minutes, before a tricycle is available to transport them to their faculties. This is not only inconvenient but also causes students to arrive late to their classes, which can have a negative impact on their academic performance.

Furthermore, the lack of consideration shown by tricycle drivers has led to arguments and quarrels amongst students, creating a chaotic and unpleasant environment within the school. It is unacceptable that students are being subjected to this level of stress and inconvenience, particularly in an academic environment where they should be focused on learning and personal growth. The school administration must take responsibility for the chaos that has been unleashed by the transportation fees hike and work towards finding a solution that prioritizes the needs and well-being of students

In a conversation with Kareem Esther, a student of the department of English, she attributed the increase in transport fare to the exponential increase in fuel prices and that the increase is “long overdue.” However, she faulted that attitudes of the drivers towards extorting students by charging higher fare “I’m concerned about the irresponsible behavior of tricycle drivers on campus. Despite the price guidelines set by the Students’ Union, some drivers refuse to follow these rules. Instead, they charge students arbitrary fares, often taking advantage of those in a hurry.” She also shared her various encounters, one of which she was overcharged by a cunning driver because she was in a hurry to get to her destination. Furthermore, she spotlighted the issue of the long queues that occur every morning, attributing this to the scarcity of tricycle riders. In addition, she suggested that there should be a surge in the number of tricycle riders as this “ could help reduce wait times, provide more convenient transportation options, and improve overall student experience,” she said.

Moving on, a student from the Faculty of Education, who prefers to be anonymous, expressed her shock when she was confronted with the new fare price. She narrated how she had to plead with the driver who conveyed her to her destination to accept #150 against the #200 requested by the driver because she was unaware of the increase.

This is quite a saddening one as the students are even finding it hard to daily board cabs to their various destinations even when the fares had not been increased. She described the early morning long queues as “infuriating and disturbing.” She, however, opined that following a designated time to resume would put an end to this malad. “I feel the development that can be made to this is that the cab drivers should be given a specific time they are to resume to duty. If this action is enforced and adhered to by the drivers, the issue would be sorted out.”

In addition, Gloria, a 200 level student of the department of English said, “I don’t usually take cabs or tricycles to class, and even when I want to, I’m usually discouraged, and put off by the long queues especially in the morning.”

Perhaps, it would be termed unacceptable and unprofessional to go ahead with this story without getting to balance the view from the drivers’ perspectives. One side of a story is always an incomplete story

In a conversation with Mr Peter, a tricycle rider at the car park, he spotlighted a number of issues contributing to the persistent long queues every morning. He explained that most of them are always around hostels because it’s easier for them to convey students to lecture rooms considering the distance from gate to the destinations of students. “Most of us go to the hostels to take students to lecture rooms. The reason we go inside is because it’s easier for us because looking at it, from the school gate to Science is a long journey, but Idia or Awo to Science is shorter.” He further explained that formulating rules for them would not be productive given the fatigue associated with the job and that some of them are “family men”, who need to attend to their families before coming every morning.

“Also, our work is so stressful, that sometimes, when we wake up, we usually want to go back to bed to rest more, and get more energy for the day’s work.” He said. However, he believed that working out a shift and implementing division of labour among operatives would allow them to cover more grounds and to allow for efficiency.

In another conversation with a different tricycle rider, Mr Oluwatobi a.k.a Tobi White, he attributed the long morning queues to a shortage of tricycles on campus compared to the number of students and the limited available spaces to convey them to classes. “I guess this is because the students are more than the available tricycles, and by the time we take students to their destinations and come back, it will be too late to prevent the long queues every morning,” he said. Consequently, he faulted the argument of lateness to work stating that most of them are always eager to work and that the big pay of the day comes in the morning.

On what can be done to curtail the tragic event from recurring, he sounded pessimistic given the situation of transport in the school. “I don’t think anything can be done about it as it probably happens in other schools. It’s just a situation that cannot be avoided. A solution would have been that more tricycles should be brought in, but it won’t favour us and even the management as the school will be crowded and we have over 200 tricycles on campus already. Another possible solution is the management allowing us to take 4 passengers instead of the 3 passengers we are taking now,” he concluded.

Furthermore, another issue that warrants attention is the lack of orderliness in the tricycle operation. Currently, a single tricycle rider is often insufficient to coordinate the large number of students, leading to chaos and disorder. To address this, it is essential to have additional personnel to maintain order and ensure that students are attended to in a fair and timely manner.

Moreover, it has been observed that tricycle riders sometimes ignore students who have been waiting for extended periods, instead attending to newer arrivals. This lack of regard for those who have been waiting can be infuriating, even for the most rational individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to address both the issue of insufficient personnel and the need for improved orderliness to create a more efficient and respectful tricycle service

It is also worthy to note that the House Secretary, Daniel Elemide, is yet to respond to questions regarding this matter and has ignored repeated calls for an interview. Despite attempts to reach him, he has not returned calls, which raises concerns about his effectiveness in addressing student exploitation – a critical issue for which he is the designated point of contact.

The transportation fee increase within the University of Ibadan has significantly disrupted the campus environment, leading to delays, frustration, and discontent among students and tricycle drivers alike. While the fee adjustment may be justified by rising operational costs, the lack of consultation, inadequate planning, and poor enforcement of fare policies have compounded the problem. Addressing these challenges requires immediate intervention from the school administration, the Students’ Union, and relevant stakeholders. Solutions such as increasing the number of tricycles, streamlining operations, and ensuring fare compliance are essential to restoring order and alleviating students’ burdens. A collaborative approach is crucial to creating a sustainable, efficient, and equitable transportation system that prioritizes the well-being of students and enhances the overall campus experience.

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