In Enugu State, Nigeria, the commercial taxi industry is on the brink of extinction, with official yellow cabs vanishing from the streets. This void is being filled by unregulated vehicles, including unmarked private cars and tricycles. The situation has raised concerns about the future of the industry and its implications for the state. The current administration's policies have contributed to the decline of the commercial taxi industry.
A visit to the Young Motors terminal in Enugu revealed a lineup of unmarked private cars waiting to pick up commuters. Okwuoma Ikpe, a passenger, was surprised to find no official yellow cabs at the terminal. He eventually hired a private taxi to complete his journey. The scene highlights the significant changes in Enugu's transport system over the last decade. The official yellow cabs have been replaced by unregulated vehicles.
The Sullivan Chime-led administration introduced over 700 taxi cabs, known as "Sullivan Taxi" or Coal City Cabs, to boost the taxi scheme in the state. However, these commercial cabs have disappeared, and private car owners are now operating as taxi cabs illegally. Ikenna Egwu, a civil servant, uses his private car as a taxi at night, citing low fares and competition from tricycles and mini-buses as reasons for the decline of official commercial cabs.
Egwu noted that commuters prefer tricycles and mini-buses due to lower fares. He also mentioned that the state government's regulation of buses and tricycles, which restricts their operation to 9 pm, allows private cab operators to take over at night. However, he struggles to break even and only uses his car as a taxi to supplement his salary. The low patronage and high competition are significant challenges for commercial taxi operators.
Daniel Ugwu, a former commercial taxi operator, sold his branded taxi and purchased a mini-bus due to low patronage and increasing maintenance costs. He stated that over 70% of commuters in the state prefer mini-buses or tricycle operators, especially during the day. The introduction of modern CNG-powered Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses has further compounded the woes of taxi cab operators.
The entry of app-based ride-hailing services into the state's transport sector has also increased competition for commercial taxi drivers. The Enugu State Road Transport Law prohibits unregistered and unpainted commercial cabs from operating, but the law is not effectively enforced. James Agbo, a Compliance Officer in the state Ministry of Transport, stated that the law remains intact and covers all commercial vehicles.
The decline of the commercial taxi industry in Enugu has significant implications for the state's economy and transportation system. The shift to unregulated vehicles has created concerns about safety and revenue generation. The state government must address these challenges and find a solution to revive the commercial taxi industry.
Key points
- The commercial taxi industry in Enugu is facing extinction due to low patronage and high maintenance costs.
- Unregulated vehicles, including unmarked private cars and tricycles, are replacing official yellow cabs in Enugu.
- The state government's policies and the introduction of modern CNG-powered BRT buses have contributed to the decline of the commercial taxi industry.
