The riders of motorcycle taxis, commonly referred to as boda-boda, in the Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital, Wau, on Monday voiced concern over sharply rising fuel prices.
Several riders who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on Monday said that in the last seven days, the price of a liter of petrol shot up from SSP 6,500 to 8,500.
Chris Martin a motorcyclist, said the skyrocketing prices are negatively affecting them and their clients.
“The increase in petrol prices is affecting us and our customers because there are sick who need help with transportation and once you take them to the hospital, they cannot afford the fare,” he stated.
Another rider identified as Saboni Ali Barakat, said nowadays they can spend a whole day without transporting even one passenger.
“Since morning we have been here without moving,” he explained. “Just now a woman passed here from the road to the church and was going to Grenti and when we told her that we would take her for SSP 5,000, she told us she only has 2,500 and left, we are unable to operate.”
For her part, Angelina Afu, a tea seller, confirmed that boda-bada fares had risen.
“Our place is in Baggari Jedid and we used to pay SSP 2,000 to get to town but now it has increased to between 3,000 and 5,000 and this has affected us the tea sellers,” she observed.
When contacted, the state chairperson of the chamber of commerce, Wol Charles Aleu, attributed the high fuel prices to new taxes on fuel dealers by the government.
“The fuel dealer said that even at SSP 8,500 per liter, they do not get profit. Last week we sat with them and we told them to charge 8,500 until we see what will happen,” he said. “When they (trucks) leave Nimule, they pay a lot of money and we urge the government to reduce the taxes.”
Meanwhile, a citizen in Wau Town, Martin Dutaki, said the people are helpless because they cannot even protest the rising fuel prices.
“Within one week, they increased fuel prices twice. We cannot do anything as civilians because if we go on the street to protest, we will become victims, so, we just pray to God,” he lamented.