Osogbo Korope Drivers Protest Rising Petrol Costs, Demand CNG Stations

Commercial minibus operators in Osogbo, Osun State, popularly known as Korope drivers, have protested the rising cost of petrol and the lack of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations in the state.

The drivers staged a peaceful protest at Ayetoro, Osogbo, on Wednesday, temporarily withdrawing their vehicles from the roads to draw attention to the increasing cost of running commercial transport businesses.

The operators said high petrol prices, expensive spare parts and rising living costs had sharply reduced their daily earnings. They warned that the situation was making it increasingly difficult to keep their businesses running.

One of the protesters, Adewumi Adeleke, said some drivers now spend as much as ₦40,000 on petrol daily, leaving little money after other operating expenses have been settled.

“How could you be running this business, spending about ₦40,000 on fuel a day, and when you get home, all you see is just ₦5,000 or ₦3,000?” Adeleke said, adding that the cost of spare parts had also become a major burden.

He called on the Federal and Osun State governments to accelerate the provision of CNG facilities in Osogbo. Adeleke said many operators were willing to convert their vehicles to CNG but needed government support to make the conversion affordable and accessible.

Another driver, Prince Olakunle Ojo, said the rising cost of petrol had made it difficult for drivers to earn enough after paying for fuel and other daily expenses. He said a driver could spend about ₦15,000 on petrol and still make only about ₦13,000 in earnings for the day.

Ojo also complained about the lack of CNG infrastructure in Osun, saying drivers who had already converted their vehicles were struggling to access the alternative fuel locally. The operators further called for a review of transport fares to reflect the current cost of fuel, maintenance and spare parts.

Another driver, Ariyo Idowu, appealed for better designated bus stops across Osogbo, saying improved transport infrastructure would help organise commercial operations and ease passenger movement.

The drivers warned that they could embark on a week-long strike if their concerns were not addressed. They called on the government and transport unions to engage them in dialogue over the rising cost of transportation operations.