Adamawa state Transport Authority Adjusts Fares on Govt Vehicles, Cites Rising Maintenance Costs

‎
‎
‎By Emmanuel Kwada
‎
‎
‎The Adamawa State Transport Authority (ADSTA) has announced an upward review of fares for all government-owned commercial vehicles across key routes in the state, citing rising costs of maintenance, spare parts, and general operations.
‎
‎According to the new fare schedule, Fresh Air Buses will now charge ₦5,000 from Yola to Madagali, an increase from ₦4,500.
‎
‎The Yola–Mubi route has risen from ₦3,500 to ₦4,000, while Yola–Ganye now costs ₦2,500, up from ₦2,000.
‎The Yola–Numan trip has moved from ₦700 to ₦1,000, and the Yola–Toungo route has increased from ₦3,000 to ₦4,000.
‎
‎ADSTA clarified that the adjustment applies only to government-operated vehicles, noting that private transport operators are expected to raise their own fares soon.
‎
‎Currently, private vehicles charge between ₦10,000 and ₦12,000 for the Yola–Madagali route, and transport unions predict price hikes as operational costs continue to surge.
‎
‎The fare increase comes at a difficult time for Adamawa residents, especially farmers who make up the majority of the state’s population.
‎
‎Already burdened by the high cost of farm inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals, and equipment all of which have risen sharply — many farmers say the transport adjustment deepens their economic struggles.
‎
‎There has also been growing concern over the poor market value of local farm produce, with many blaming recent government policies for making it harder to sell crops at profitable rates.
‎
‎Farmers transporting goods from rural communities to urban markets now face even higher operational costs, a situation they fear may further reduce their earnings.
‎
‎With the festive season approaching, residents worry that the increased transport fares will drive up the prices of essentials, compounding the hardship faced by households already battling inflation.
‎
‎Many say the cost of travelling home for Christmas and New Year celebrations may now be out of reach for low-income families.
‎
‎Despite the challenges, ADSTA says the fare review is necessary to sustain reliable services, assuring citizens that further adjustments will be avoided unless absolutely unavoidable.