Federal Government has approved N10 billion to cushion set-backs encountered by road transport workers and operators as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister of State for Transportation, Ms Gbemisola Saraki, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Saraki made this known when the President, Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA), Mr Isaac Uhunwagho, led the association’s National Executive Committee and Trustees to visit her in Abuja.

She informed the delegation that the fund was domiciled at Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment adding that Ministry of Transportation was currently working on the modalities for its disbursement.

While appreciating that 90 per cent of Nigerians travelled by road, Saraki stated that Federal government would soon initiate a master plan to reform the sector.

She therefore solicited the buy-in of all stakeholders in that regard.

On challenges operators faced from State governments and other stakeholders, the Minister gave the assurance that she would discuss the issues through  National Transport Commissioners Forum.

Saraki said she was also working with Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the concessionning of some routes which according to her was the best way to go to increase government revenue.

She further, enjoined the group to avoid duplicity and formalise their structures in an organised manner for better engagements, with the ministry and other relevant agencies.

National President of PTONA, Mr Uhunwagho, stated that their visit was in respect to the challenges being faced by the body.

He appreciated efforts of the Minister towards ameliorating challenges PTONA has been facing since the pandemic in February, 2020.

He also commended the cooperation and protection which the Ministry was providing for public transportation in the country.

Uhunwagho said that with this, our future in the ‘one chance’ business is now encouraging.

PTONA president appealed for Covid-19 financial palliatives for her members to prevent their businesses from folding up.

He said:”PTONA members felt the impact of the lockdown the most as their branded buses could not operate due to the ban on interstate travel.”

According to Uhunwagho, the general motor parks did not comply with the ban as their parks became a safe haven for flouting the ban and they enjoyed black market transportation boom.

He lamented that in spite of the fact that PTONA members were major investors in the transportation sector, their companies were the prime target for state and local government authorities who imposed taxes, levies and other ridiculous conditions.

Uhunwagho said these challenges among others necessitated the visit  and expressed hoped that their pleas would be looked into.

The Guardian