If you've been wincing every time you flag down a bike around FUTO lately, there's some good news coming your way. The Students' Union Government has just reached a deal with bike operators across campus to bring fares down, and the new price list is now official.

It all started with a meeting called by the SUG's Director of Transport, High Comrade Orji Bond Chidiebere, who sat down with bike operators from across the university community to talk through a few things that have been on students' minds for a while now: safety, identification, and, of course, the ever-rising bike fares.

What Prompted the Meeting

Anyone who rides bikes around FUTO regularly knows the drill — prices that seem to change depending on who's asking, no real way to tell who's a verified operator and who isn't, and the general unease that comes with hopping on a bike at night without knowing much about the rider.

The SUG's transport office decided to tackle all of that head-on, gathering bike operators at FUTO SUG Secretariat for a sit-down that covered three key areas: student safety and security, proper identification of operators, and getting bike prices back to something reasonable.

Bike operators gather for meeting with SUG Director of Transport

The Outcome: Fares Are Down

After back-and-forth discussions, the operators agreed to slash their prices. The SUG confirmed shortly after the meeting that bike fares within FUTO have officially come down, with a formal memo following to spell out exactly what students should now be paying on each route.

According to the official memorandum signed by the Director of Transport, here's the new approved fare structure:

Obinze to School

  • 1 Passenger: ₦800
  • 2 Passengers: ₦1,000

Umuchimma to School

  • Short Distance: ₦400
  • Long Distance: ₦500

School to Ihiagwa

  • Short Distance: ₦500
  • Long Distance: ₦700

School to Eziobodo

  • First Filling Station: ₦400
  • Long Distance: ₦600

Hostels to School

  • All Hostels: ₦300

Hostels to Senate

  • All Hostels: ₦400

Bike Operators to Get Official ID Cards

Beyond the pricing, the meeting also settled something students have long asked for — a way to tell legitimate, recognised bike operators apart from random riders. Going forward, all bike operators within FUTO will be issued official identification cards, recognised by both the Students' Union Government and University Management.

This is expected to make it easier for students to identify who they're actually getting on a bike with, especially at odd hours, and gives the university community a clearer picture of who's operating within its boundaries.

SUG Appreciates the Operators

In its statement following the meeting, the SUG expressed appreciation to the bike operators for their cooperation, acknowledging that reaching an agreement required understanding on both sides.

"Your safety and comfort remain our priority," the SUG noted, addressing the student community directly, while also commending the bike men for coming to the table.

What Students Should Do Now

With the new fares now official, students are encouraged to:

  • Pay attention to the approved fares for their specific routes and avoid overpaying.
  • Report any bike operator charging above the approved rates to the SUG Transport Office.
  • Watch out for operators wearing or carrying the new identification cards once they're issued.
  • Continue prioritising personal safety when using bikes, especially at night.

The SUG has indicated that both students and operators are expected to comply fully with these new directives, as the union continues to push for a more organised and student-friendly transport system around campus.

Students are advised to keep this fare list handy and call out any operator charging more than the approved rates.