While the tax face-off between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and the Cross River State Government enters its second day, commuters in Calabar are having to cope with an astronomical increase in transportation cost, within the metropolis.
Investigations by our correspondents revealed that commuting from Watt market to any where on the Murtala Mohammed highway attracts a fare of between N200 to N500, depending on the distance. For instance, a short taxi ride from the New Secretariat to SPC junction now costs N200, from the normal N100 fare. N250 is now the fare from Mobil filling station on MCC Road to Beyond Orok Orok junction on Etta Agbo Road. Long distance transportation out of Calabar has also been hit by the impasse. We gathered that a Calabar to Ugep taxi ride goes for between N1,500 to N1,800 while Calabar to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State is N1,300, away from N1,ooo. Long vehicles queues are visible at filling stations within the metropolis.
Meanwhile most government agencies have resorted to travelling to neighbouring Akwa Ibom State to buy and store fuel for operational purposes as it does appear that the warning strike may last for one tortuous week. Government sources so far remain mum on the issue.