By Uchenna Eletuo
Yuletide – Christmas and the period around it, with its festivities – is seen by many as a season of warmth, love and peace, with Christmas itself being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Yuletide is characterised by merriment, travels, recreation, charity, gatherings, etc., which promote social integration, peace and love.
Yearly, many families buy food stuff and other commodities some months or weeks before Yuletide due to increase in prices of such commodities which characterises the season in most cases.
Increase in services including transport also characterises Yuletide yearly as many people travel during the period to reunite with loved ones.
Analysts argue that increase in cost of goods and services during the period is exploitative.
They are worried that this puts pressure on many Nigerians, with some spending more than necessary and even taking loans, while unpatriotic ones engage in stealing, fraud and other vices to raise money.
They believe that celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and New Year should not put such pressure on Nigerians.
A social scientists, Dr Adebowale Lasisi, says Nigerians have the penchant to take advantage of any opportunity to exploit others.
He says the exploitation is a reflection of greed and unpatriotism.
“The crave to take advantage of others or cash in on a season such as Yuletide to exploit others through increase in prices of goods and services should not arise.
Describing the trend as a social deformity, Lasisi is convinced that, with social security in place, such a situation will not be.
Lasisi, a university lecturer, calls on governments and the civil society to help to put an end to the trend.
A former Imam of Lagos State University, Prof. Amidu Sanni, describes such an increase as retrogressive.
Sanni says instead of adding flavour to Yuletide, the trend dispossesses people of purchasing power to celebrate during the period.
“It has become an ugly tradition to have prices of consumables such as rice, condiments and confectioneries and services such as transport to increase during this period for no just cause.
“As a people, we must reverse this trend that serves no good.
“The worst is that any price that goes up never comes down irrespective of economic derivatives geared toward price reduction by governments,” he argues.
He regrets that this Yuletide some inter-state transport fares have increased by over 65 per cent, keeping many travellers stranded.
Mr Ogwuchukwu Ezeodili, a Manager at Alaba, Ojo, Lagos State, Luxury Bus Park, blames the increase on bad roads.
The transport manager describes Yuletide as a time of upsurge in the number of travellers, saying that bad condition of some roads and its wear tear on vehicles, as well as the cost of vehicle maintenance, contribute to increase in transport fares.
Another transporter, Mr Andrew Bioseh, observes that increased fare has compelled many travellers to opt for night journeys in spite of the associated risks.
Bioseh notes that before Thursday (Christmas Day), transport fare from Lagos to Aba in Abia was between ₦28,000 and ₦30,000 during the daytime while night travel cost ₦22,000.
According to him, at the moment, daytime bus fare to Aba stands at ₦42,000 while night bus fare is ₦33,000.
A traveller, Ms Ijeoma Ekezie, says she prefers night travels during festive periods to save cost and avoid overcrowding associated with daytime travels during such periods.
Bishop Charles Ighele of the Holy Spirit Church, Ikeja, warns that exploitation of any sort is a sin and should be avoided for personal and societal progress.
In a statement on Sunday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) warned that exploitative or unfair practices by road transport operators would attract regulatory sanctions.
In the statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC said the warning followed complaints of arbitrary fare hikes by inter-city road transport operators across the country.
It acknowledged that seasonal demands, operational pressures and other legitimate factors might affect transport pricing.
“However, consumers are entitled to clear, accurate, and timely information on fares before travels. Any fare adjustment must therefore be transparently communicated and applied fairly,” it said.
Analysts urge collective efforts by governments, market associations, transport unions, the civil society and other stakeholders to eradicate unwarranted increase in the cost of essential commodities and services during Yuletide in the interest of the masses.
