Osun - Many motor parks in Osogbo, the Osun capital, were a beehive of activities on Wednesday as travellers returned to various destinations after the New Year celebration.
At the popular Igbona park, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) spoke with some travellers heading for Lagos who said the festival provided an opportunity to meet friends and family members.
Mr Simon Ajibade, a civil servant at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, described the festive period as memorable and fascinating.
`` We have had an exciting moment with our extended family which is the essence of festivities. Inspite of all the challenges of the year, we are happy to have weathered the storm.
`` At first, we thought the increase in the pump price of petroleum products that opened 2012 will repeat itself, but we thank God that there is nothing of such,’’ he said.
NAN also reports that the fares charged by commercial drivers were relatively moderate compared to the hike before Christmas.
The fare for the Osogbo-Lagos trip, NAN gathered, was between N1,300 and N1,500 while between N500 and N700 was being charged for the Osogbo-Ibadan trip.
NAN also visited an Abuja park located at Ota-Efun where many commuters were waiting for buses.
One of the NURTW officials at the park, Mr Musiliu Jamiu, told NAN that more than three vehicles left for Abuja and Kano before 9. am.
He said that more vehicles were being awaited to transport the anxious travellers.
Jamiu also said the fare to Abuja was N5,500 while that of Kano was N7, 500.
But one of the passengers at the park, Mrs Bukola Sonaya, condemned the delay at the park occasioned by the unavailability of vehicles as well as fares charged to the northern part of the country.
`` I did not envisage this kind of delay, may be I should have arrived earlier.
`` I have to get to Abuja early to prepare for work tomorrow since I can not make it again today to the office
`` Inspite of the fact that their fares are exorbitant, they are not in any way organised; look at the time now, I have been here for the past one hour waiting for a bus,’’ she said.
NAN