Motorists hike fares over extortionist checkpoints in Nimule route

Unnecessary and illegal road blocks along Juba – Nimule Highway are to blame for the unprecedented hike of bus fare by drivers plying the route.

When the coronavirus intensified in 2020, fares were doubled as drivers sought to cover up for empty seats reserved because of the social distancing order.

As the pandemic wanes, however, public transport charges along the highway remained at the peak with no indication of reduction.

While the inflation is also playing a part, the dramatic increase in bus fares is catapulted by the existence of multiple illegal road blocks established by rogue military elements.   

Ali Abuk, a driver who plies the Juba-Nimule Highway, revealed that there are more than five checkpoints along the highway and drivers pay at least SSP2,000 at each checkpoint.

“We used to charge a passenger SSP2,000 only to Nimule, but currently if you have seven passengers on board and you charge the SSP2,000 each then I think no driver will ever go to Nimule because all this money will be taken at these checkpoints and you will still get some money from your own pocket and pay them,” Mr. Abuk told City Review exclusively.

Extortion

Abuk specifically mentioned some of the checkpoints which he said one could not pass through without paying money as a driver carrying passengers.

“Of course, along Nimule highway there are many checkpoints (road blocks) where we normally used to pay some money to those road blocks. Those checkpoints include; Nesitu, Asuwa, Nyolo, Gordon and even at Nimule checkpoints. In all of that, one can spend around SSP10,000 before reaching to final destination,” he revealed.

 Abuk added that, “It is only when you are known by the soldiers sitting at those checkpoints otherwise one may spend more than SSP 10,000 if you are a stranger to them.

“For instance, we the Noah (van) drivers, we normally carry seven passengers per trip and each passenger pays 8,000 as per current price that is if all are going directly to Nimule, which is SSP54,000 per Noah,” Mr. Abuk revealed.

He said in this SSP 54,000 the drivers needed to pay parking attendance (office) with 8,000 which is for one passenger (seat) as one of the rules for them before driving to the intended destination.

“If we go to real calculations, a Noah has 7 seats. Multiply that by SSP8,000 and you get SSP54,000 and then deduct the checkpoints fee plus park fee and other expenses you find yourself left with very little. You will also have to save for car maintenance and pay the owner of the car,” he clarified.

Another driver who spoke to City Review anonymously, believes that if some of the checkpoints are reduced along high ways, drivers will also understand the condition of the passengers and charge reasonable transport fee adding that drivers understand the situation but the conditions on the highway leave them without options.

According to him, out of SSP54,000 sometimes one end up with less than SSP40,000 which he says would not cater for the services of the car, the owner and the driver.

“What people are doing now is that if someone pressed on the other side then you need to press someone from the other side so that you relieve the pain you have, that is what is going on.”

He called on the government to either reduce the number of checkpoints on highways or direct the officers at those checkpoints to vacate.