The Ministry of Trade has finally made official the increase in inter and intraurban transportation tariffs across the country. In a February 15 decision, Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana announced the new harmonised rates for urban transport by taxis and suburban and interurban transport by coaches and buses, throughout the national territory.
For urban transport by taxis, the cost was raised daytime pickup fares from 250 FCFA to 300 FCFA. Night time pickup rose to 350 FCFA from 300 FCFA, with the period defined as ranging between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Students, pupilsand persons with reduced mobility on their part, shall be required to pay 250 FCFA during the day and 300 FCFA at night.
“The rates for urban transport by taxis and suburban and interurban transport by coaches and buses,” Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga noted, “shall be negotiated by mutual agreement between the client and the carrier, depending on the route to be covered.”
In negotiating these rates however, transporters are compelled to respect price ceilings declared by the Ministry of Trade in the same document: while kids aged 0-7 shall be transported free, the fare for those 8-10 shall be set at a maximum of 7 FCFA per kilometre, same with persons with reduced mobility. The same distance shall not cost more than 9 FCFA for those from 11-21, and 14 FCFA fpor persons over 21 years old.
The Ministry of Trade also revised the flat rate for luggage transportation, setting the price at 0 FCFA for any luggage under 15 kg. bags weighing between 15 and 50 kg can be transported for costs between 350 FCFA and 650 FCFA, and those between 50 kg and 200, from 600 FCFA to 1000 FCFA, depending on the distance.
“Carriers shall be required to weigh any luggage on scales approved and verified by the administration in charge of legal metrology in accordance with the laws and regulations in force,” the Minister noted.
Prior to the official increase, taxi drivers in some cities had already established the hikes, demanding more than the previous regular fares from clients. This, was in reaction to the increase in fuel prices that went effective from February 01, 2023.
In his 2022 end of year speech, President Paul Biya had hinted on the impending rise, noting that government was stretched thin from subsidising the products. Cameroon, like many other countries in Africa and elsewhere” he stated, “will not be able to indefinitely avert a petroleum products price adjustment if we must preserve our fiscal balances…”
Despite the matching 5% rise in civil servants’ salaries, trade unions and workers’ associations insist on more reforms, including raising the minimum wage (36,270 FCFA) to 150,000 FCFA.
Poise News Desk
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