Bauchi is a nice state with good roads. One thing I love about this state is the high level of cleanliness. Bauchi's capital city is clean, leaving me to wonder if the masses don't make use of the roads. My stay in other states gave me the perception that all Nigerian streets are dirty. But that became a misconception when I got to Bauchi.
Although Bauchi City has good roads, lots of rural areas still suffer from bad roads. The issue of potholes and untarred roads makes transportation difficult, particularly during the rainy season when passing becomes difficult, making them not exempt from the bad road issue. Just like in every other state, another major problem in Bauchi is the cost of petroleum. The unstable price of petroleum has been a daily challenge to public transport users and operators. Due to the high cost of petroleum, car owners and motorists have made the price of transportation extremely high.
The commoners are the ones suffering, making transportation something a poor man finds difficult to afford. I remember paying 1,200 naira to a community within the capital city. From where I boarded, the fare to my destination wasn't even a 40-minutes journey. All was due to the high cost of petroleum. The distance wasn't walkable, which left me with no choice but to pay the amount even though that meant dipping my hands into my last pocket.
The price for the same location has increased from what it used to be. This is not just in that distance alone but in all distances. A place I used to pay 300 naira to suddenly rose to 500, and when you want to argue, they quickly tell you the price of fuel has increased from what it was last to a new price. Just last week, a motorist told me he bought fuel at 1,300 per liter. Everybody is feeling the heat, both car owners and those who rely on public transportation.
With low productivity in the country and earnings, interstate travel becomes a challenge for low-income earners. I felt the heat too; my journey from Akwa Ibom to Bauchi was exorbitant, and that has been one of the reasons I doubt my traveling home.
This cost of petroleum has made distant locations costly. Gone are those days when you would go to the park and see vehicles loading until noon, giving one the confidence to leave home at any time, knowing they would see a bus. Due to this, few parks are currently operating, as some prefer nearby distances to far distances due to the high price of fuel.
Another thing I love about Bauchi dwellers is their ability to improvise. Instead of spending the little they earn on transportation, they seek an affordable and suitable approach. One way this problem has been tackled here by citizens is the use of bicycles. This has helped to reduce the way people depend on petrol. This is one of the solutions that I know would last very long for the masses. Apart from long-term purposes, it is also environmentally friendly. Another means to reduce the high cost of petroleum is for the federal government to look into subsidizing the price. Making the price one that is affordable would make transportation a fare everyone can afford without having a second thought.