Commuters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, had a harrowing experience on Thursday as they tried to board popular commercial tricycles and motorcycles (Okadas), with riders taking to the streets to protest soaring fuel prices in the city.
The protest left commuters stranded for hours, with many forced to trek long distances to reach their destinations.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the commercial transporters staged protests in major parts of the metropolis, including Oloje, Oko Olowo, and Zango in the Ilorin East and Ilorin West Local Government Areas, among others. They expressed frustration over their inability to recoup the money spent on fuel after a day’s work.
The riders mounted roadblocks across major roads, causing gridlock and disrupting daily activities.
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One of the tricycle operators, Taye Dhikhrulahi, stated that they are not even thinking about making a profit at the moment, noting that it is difficult to recover the money spent on fuel after daily operations.
He urged the government to take urgent action to save small businesses from collapse and appealed to the federal government to intervene to help them stay in business.
The protest also caused significant disruptions in the city, with many motorists forced to turn back or seek alternative routes. Shop owners along the popular Ibrahim Taiwo Road were also affected, with some forced to close their businesses temporarily.
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