PTONA Urges FG to Unban Inter-state Transportation

By Bennett Oghifo

Owners of the largest fleets of vehicles for road transportation in the country have called on the federal government to consider immediate lifting of the ban on inter-state travels as it plans to reopen the nation’s airports for domestic and international flights.

The group, known as Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association, (PTONA) stated, at a press conference in Lagos, recently, that it was imperative for the federal government to lift the ban because transportation is interconnected and that more importantly, 90 per cent of Nigerians use motor vehicles to move around the country.

According to the National President of PTONA, Engr. Isaac Uhunmwagho, “When a plane lands in Abuja, for instance, some passengers will like to transit to Nasarawa, or elsewhere and these people will need to travel by road.”

Interstate transportation is the engine of any economy, said Uhunmwagho, who identified members of PTONA as owners of the majority of public transport vehicles in Nigeria. “All the biggest names in public transportation are our members.

“Consequently, we pride ourselves as being the biggest stakeholders, apart from the government in the transportation of Nigerians around the country.

“We see ourselves as partners to the Government in trying to improve upon the transportation of Nigerians. Towards this end, we are working closely with Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Safety, Nigerian Police, as well as state governments.”

He said transportation was one of four most important elements for human existence after Food, Water and Shelter, adding that the government had a major role to play to ensuring that their citizens do not suffer excessively in being able to transport themselves around.

Thus, he said PTONA wants the government to lift the ban on inter-state transportation as soon as possible, stating that they expected the government to do this before airlines resumed operations.

Also, they want the government to introduce necessary guidelines and protocols that would enable Nigerians travel safely in the midst of COVID-19, according to Uhunmwagho who had with him some members of PTONA.

“This is most important for two reasons: COVID-19 will not be gone in the next one, two or even six months. We need to learn how to live alongside with COVID-19, and apply all necessary measures.

“The longer the ban on inter-state travelling lasts, the much more will be the number of small and big business that will die permanently. The earlier the ban is lifted the better, otherwise some businesses will not be able to recover,” he said.

Government needs to financially aid transport sector such that the transport owners do not have to transfer the entire burden onto the poor hapless Nigerians who are already very weak financially because of all the effects of COVID-19. “In fact, like many other businesses, some transport owners are bound to go bankrupt.”

He specifically said they needed grants and even loans at CBN’s interest rate of between 9 per cent and 10 per cent to enable their members recover.

PTONA, he said had already written their plea for financial assistance and palliatives to the Economic Sustainability Committee, headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

“Government should face the challenge of ensuring that Nigerians comply with the guidelines and protocols which will be introduced for long-distance travels, as well as encourage Nigerians to abide by all other COVID-19 rules and regulations. That is the only way that we can say that we shall overcome COVID-19,” he said.

Inability to continue paying salaries to staff had been the plight of many transporters, as the funds are no longer there, he said, explaining that thousands of vehicles have been parked and redundant for almost three months. “The cost of restoration of these vehicles to sound condition will be millions of naira.

“The reliability of many of these vehicles will not be the same anymore. Vehicles were never designed to be left idle, and even if they may re-start, numerous mechanical, electrical and system faults are bound to arise, including tyres, and the transport owners have very little funds left to meet up with these challenges.

“Some transport owners who have rented premises may be unable to continue using some of such premises.”

According to him, in the post COVID-19 operating conditions, vehicles are expected to carry approximately 50% of passengers, as well as spend money on additional sanitation and health facilities. If a vehicle takes 50% of passengers, simple arithmetic will dictate that the transport fare will have to double.

“The airlines have already come up with a similar answer. The question is, can Nigerians, whose average level of income has been adversely hit by the effects of COVID-19 be able to pay significantly increased transport fares?”

The Inaugural Executive of PTONA, which was sworn into office in September last year, successfully reached out to many Ministers and Agencies and in February, this year, and had a high profile visitation to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo at State House, Abuja, Uhunmwagho said.

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