Students, persons with disability exempted from transport fare increase
By Pavel Joseph
Taxi fare in Cameroon recently witnessed an increase as a result of added fuel prices. While the change is gradually being implemented, the Minister of Commerce Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana has indicated that students, pupils, and persons with mobility issues will not be affected.
“It’s 300 FCFA during the day and 350 FCFA at night, but the good thing is that we have taken into account persons with mobility problems, the same thing for students and pupils, we remain with the old price” Luc Mbarga Atangana said.
“Concerning interurban transport, persons with mobility issues will pay half” the Minister added.
He further said “for children aged between 0-7 years it is free, those from 7 to 10 years will pay 7 FCFA per kilometre, and those aged between 11 to 21 years the majority, it is 9 FCFA. Those above the majority group will pay 14 FCFA per kilometre” he ended.
Some persons have said the move will rather penalize drivers. “How will the drivers benefit? Or are they also exempted from the increase in fuel. I don’t even understand” Fose Marie Therese in Yaounde wondered.
“Taximen will rather carry someone who can afford to pay the additional fare rather than carry a student who will pay cheaper, forcing the students to top up” another individual said.
The measures taken by the government to reduce the burden of the recent fuel price increase on drivers as well as the population, do not seem to be enough. More Cameroonians are getting worried about the level of inflation in the country.
