There are indications that kidnapping will increase as inter-state transport companies, which are now faced with low passenger patronage, adopt the 'sole' method to cover the cost of operations.
'Soole' is a slang in the Yoruba language that describes a routine where commercial bus drivers pick up passengers along the roadsides, instead of loading from the parks.
Despite the reduction in petrol prices, inter-state transport companies have continued to inflate travel fares, forcing passengers to shy away from the parks and embrace the roadsides, where they can get fairer bargains.
Also, many Nigerians are ignoring travelling inter-state, except the journey is of significant importance.
Economy&Lifestyle discovered that due to low patronage, the first buses of some transport companies leave their stations as late as 11 pm, with fewer passengers.
To fill up the remaining seats, drivers pick up commuters travelling short destinations, with the ticket passengers, whose journeys end at the terminal, to make up the cost of running expenses.
Mr. Ehis Oleighe, an interstate bus driver, said: "Loading an 18-seat bus is not easy nowadays.
"We spend hours at the bus park hustling for passengers.
"Most times, we have just eight. When we are lucky we have 12 passengers for the first bus.
"These passengers prefer cars like Sienna, which quickly get filled up.
"The bus driver is given little money to sort expenses like fuel.
"The driver has no choice but to pick up passengers along the road to meet up with the cost of expenses."
Mr Segun Momoh, a Park Manager, said: "The cost of maintaining these vehicles, cost of renting this company's space, paying staff, among other things is not helping matters at all.
"You know what the cost of a tyre is in the market now.
"So you don't blame the drivers because they are given less amount for expenses when the passengers are not complete.
"That's why they are adopting the'soole?'method."
Miss. Mirabel Makanjuola, an undergraduate narrating her experience when traveling to Auchi from Lagos said: "I spent 14 hours on the road from Lagos to Auchi.
"It was like I boarded an intercity bus.
"The driver was just picking passengers from different bus stops.
"Passengers were yelling, some were murmuring while others were quiet.
"It was a terrible journey because the driver was not even concerned about our safety and in a situation of an accident it would be difficult to identify those passengers picked up on the road.
"I have vowed to board a car when embarking on such journeys."
Mr. Solomon Adesola, a human rights activist commended the efforts of transportation companies and other businesses on their struggles for survival amidst the challenges inherent in the economy.
He pointed: "This is a very high risk these companies are taking.
"These drivers can pick up criminals like armed robbers, kidnappers and the likes putting the lives of their passengers at risk.
"Also, in a situation where there is an accident, those passengers picked alongside the road will be difficult to identify because their names are not included in the manifest for passengers."
"It is high time the government addresses these economic situations of high cost of living, prices of goods and services among other things to save its citizens from problems like the ones mentioned above. "
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