Transport Operators to Share FG’s N10bn Survival Fund

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A N10 billion survival fund has been approved by the federal government for transport workers and operators in the country, with modalities for its disbursement being worked on at the moment.

Minister of State for Transportation, Ms Gbemisola Saraki, who announced this recently, said the funds will be domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment.

Speaking when the President of Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA), Mr Isaac Uhunwagho, led his team to her office in Abuja, she said the money will help cushion the sufferings encountered by road transport workers and operators as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, the Minister disclosed that she was engaging the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the concessionning of some routes which she thinks is the best way to go so as to increase government revenue.

She enjoined them to avoid duplicity and formalize their structures in an organized manner for better engagements, with the ministry and other relevant agencies.

While appreciating the fact that about 90 per cent of Nigerians travel by road, Ms Saraki stated that the government will soon initiate a master plan that will reform the sector and therefore solicited the buy-in of all stakeholders.

Reacting to challenges operators face from State governments and other stakeholders, the Minister gave the assurance that she will discuss the issues through the National Transport Commissioners Forum.

In his remarks, the President of PTONA, Mr Isaac Uhunwagho, stated that the visit was in respect of challenges being faced by the group.

He lamented that despite PTONA members being the major investors in the transportation sector, it is ironical that their companies are the prime target for state and local government authorities who impose taxes, levies and other ridiculous conditions on their members.