Korope drivers in Osun protest fuel price and ticket money issues

Osun state minibus drivers, known as Korope, protested in Osogbo on Wednesday. They are part of the Association of Korope Drivers. They are upset about rising fuel prices and the mismanagement of money from daily ticket sales.

The protest started early in the morning and lasted until about 2pm. It disrupted transport services along various routes in the state capital, making some commuters walk to their destinations.

The drivers expressed that the high cost of petrol, spare parts, and food has made their work less profitable. They gathered at Ayetoro Junction, parking their buses and not allowing those who did not join the protest to operate.

Abdulwasiu Osuolale, a representative of the protesters, spoke with The PUNCH. He said the drivers are also unhappy about how union leaders manage the money from daily ticket sales.

Osuolale stated that the drivers decided to increase fares on different routes in Osogbo. He urged the government to look into how ticket proceeds are being used. He said, "The fuel price has brought a lot of hardship. The leadership of the transport unions is also not treating drivers well. They don’t care about what we are going through. All they care about is the daily ticket money they collect from us."

He went on, "The cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance is too high, and that is why we came out today for this peaceful protest. We started the protest at 7:00 am to inform Osogbo residents that transport fare has increased. A drop is now N300. Also, the government should investigate how proceeds from the ticket sales are being utilised. Some private individuals, rather than remitting it to government coffers, are keeping the proceeds."

During the protest, the Association of Korope Drivers shared a new fare structure with The PUNCH. Passengers on the shortest routes in the state capital will now pay a flat fare of N300. Routes with this fare include Dagbolu 1 and 2 to Kobo, Ota-Efun to Stadium, and others.

For routes attracting the N400 fare, passengers will pay for trips from Dagbolu to Ota-Efun and several others. The N500 routes include Ota-Efun to Old Garage, Testing Ground to Ogo-Oluwa, and more.

The association set the fare at N600 for trips like Kobo to Old Garage, Ota-Efun to Oja-Oba, and others. Other routes, like Ayetoro and Igbona to Owode-Ede, will now cost N700.

Passengers will pay N800 from Stadium to Owode-Ede and N1,000 for Ota-Efun to Owode-Ede. The longest route, Kobo to Owode-Ede, will cost N1,200.

Emmanuel Olowu, the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, praised the drivers for the peaceful protest. He said, "What the transporters did today is the best form of protest in a democracy. In a democracy, everybody has the right to express their grievance when aggrieved. Looking at their position, they are only planning to increase transport fares as a result of the high cost of petrol."

Olowu also mentioned the drivers' concerns about their union leaders, saying, "This shows that the current system where individuals who are not under government control collect ticket money cannot continue."