By Grace Ademulegun
A typical trip from Ibadan to Abuja on Saturday, January 25, 2025, became a commentary on the condition of Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.
I was able to witness the concerning behaviours at the WEMA parking lot in Ibadan, a well-known transportation hub, firsthand while working as a Nature News correspondent.
The first concern is if there are rules in place to direct transport workers. Although tickets are sent to travellers upon payment, they frequently do not include important information like the total amount spent.
Concerns regarding fraud and accountability are raised by this lack of openness.
I discovered throughout my trip that the costs had increased significantly since I had last travelled the same route in September 2024.
This occurred in spite of a drop in the cost of petrol. Despite paying more, passengers experienced overloading.
We were on a fully-paid bus, an HIACE hummer with a trunk that was too small for many things, and we discovered that the aisle was crammed with boxes and bags, forcing people to step on luggage in order to get about. It was a humiliating and frustrating experience.
Transport workers charge for excess baggage, even though it may seem like they are saving passengers money by allowing it. This raises the question of whether we are merely putting up with systemic inefficiencies or if this is a cost-effective compromise.
The effects of overloading were evident halfway through the trip. The trunk burst open, dumping bags into the motorway. Fortunately, there were no cars immediately following us, but the incident made a crucial point: overloading and carelessness can have disastrous results.
A single act of negligence may have resulted in a horrific disaster that would have destroyed families and put lives in peril.
There is an obvious need for reform. The transport system needs immediate reform, from establishing clear restrictions on baggage limitations to enforcing responsibility in fare collection.
Profit should never come at the expense of safety. We run the risk of continuing a cycle of inefficiency and danger on our roads if we don’t take swift action.
This is an appeal for lives as much as for change, since even seemingly insignificant things, like following transport laws, can have a huge impact.
