Business
Challenges Of ESI Women Drivers In Rivers
Transportation sector has been described as one of the lucrative business areas in both developed and developing countries of the world. Its activities span across land transportation which includes wheelbarrow, bicycle, truck, tricycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle and chariots.
Sea transportation covers canoe, flying boat and ocean-moving vessels classified as marine transport. While air transportation known to be the aviation sector deals with movement aircrafts.
The major objective of the transport industry is centred on the movement on human and materials from one destination to another, with a view of accelerating interaction, relationship and transactions between individuals, communities, states and countries.Transport business in the world has been largely dominated by the male sex, creating gender equality in the system.
And in a bid to bridge the gap posed by gender inequality, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi roled out her pet project known as Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) aimed at empowering and encouraging women partake in the transportation business.
Besides, the project also tend to reduce poverty, improve their income base, create job and make them self reliant. No wonder Her Excellency insisted that women should drive the vehicles allotted to them, to ensure that the gender inequality gap is bridged, as well as proof to the world that women can compete men favourably.
Speaking with the beneficiaries of the scheme, the woman driver who gave her name as Patience, told The Tide that she found joy competing with men on the road as driver of her own car, noting that she make as much as N6,000 to N7,000 daily.
She said that, she programme her business time to suit the domestic affairs of her household so as to maintain a balance in the flow of income.
The woman driver lauded the initiator of the scheme Dame Judith Amaechi for empowering women in this magnitude of a saloon car other than the usual gas cooker, sowing machine, hair dryer etc experienced in the past administrations.
Another beneficiary of the transport scheme Mrs Ibiene Orupabo who ply Lagos bustop-Aggrey-Borokiri route told our correspondent that inspite of the fuel scarcity and like in the price of the product, she said that somedays the income margin stands at N10,000, while some other days between N8,000 and N9,000 depending on how serious. According to her, “I never knew that transport business is so lucrative and with my experience as a taxi driver, I intended to expand to full time transporter as soon as I pay the agreed sum (the cost price of the car).
We are in a capitalist world where competition and hardwork form the foundation of our survival, therefore, women should stand firm and contribute to the economic growth of our respective families and the state at large”, she asserted.
She said that Rivers State Government has done so much to rekindle the potentials in women through the wife of the Governor by wooing them into the driving profession which is worthy of emulation by other states.
Mrs Orupabo expressed her pleasure over the level of patronage accorded them on their route by the passengers, saying maybe it is because we are women drivers or that their cars are neat, new and air conditioned.
Speaking on the daily challenges facing the operation of the women drivers in the state, Mrs Janet Ihunwo noted with dismay the incessant harassment of the woman drivers by the traffic marshals, citing the recent assault meted out on a woman driver along Aba road by the staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission which she said the case is in the court.
She said that they are always envied by the male counterpart who dominated the sector, adding that sometimes they are quirked, abused and threatened. Also, “you have to meet your domestic obligations, take the children to school, bring them back, cook and maintain the domestic affairs of the family as well as go out for the days business”, she noted.
She urged government to increase the number of the beneficiaries this year and improve the road network to ease the flow of traffic within the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs.
In a concerted effort to tackle racketeering and reduce inflated transportation costs in the Nigeria’s seaports, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) has trained Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders on the use of its Ètò electronic call-up system.
The training was held recently at Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and supported by the leadership of the Joint Association of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders (JALCAFF), Apapa Command.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed appreciation to TTP for facilitating the training and emphasized the need for customs agents to take personal ownership of the Ètò booking process.
“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu declared.
He noted that empowering agents with hands-on training was key to dismantling racketeering networks that have plagued access to the ports and frustrated efficient logistics processes.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, said the engagement was critical to the ongoing push to reduce cargo transportation costs and ease business operations at the Apapa Port.
According to a freight forwarder, “The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò call-up system through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port.
“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves. We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.”
Earlier, Head of Operations at TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman, talked on common misconceptions about ticket pricing, reaffirming that the cost of Ètò bookings had remained consistent since its inception.
“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers”.
Towards strengthening small businesses and promoting a more supportive regulatory environment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it will hold the 2025 edition of its flagship MSMEs Fair on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The event, themed, “Galvanising MSMEs for Economic Growth and Stability”, will take place at NECA House in Lagos.
According to NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, the fair seeks to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises with essential tools, resources, and strategic networks to thrive in Nigeria’s challenging business climate.
He emphasised the vital role MSMEs play in national development, describing them as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.”
Oyerinde noted that the fair is designed to offer entrepreneurs practical solutions to navigate economic uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and business scalability issues.
A major attraction of this year’s event is the keynote address by the CEO of FATE Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, a prominent advocate for MSME development.
She is expected to share transformative insights on innovative strategies for sustaining and growing small businesses in Nigeria.
A unique feature of the fair will be interactive sessions with key regulatory bodies. Entrepreneurs will engage directly with agencies responsible for licensing, compliance, taxation, and business registration.
NECA said these sessions aim to demystify bureaucratic processes and foster a more enabling business environment.
It also said the fair will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services, connect with potential investors, and explore new markets.
It added that participants would gain critical knowledge on digital transformation, access to finance, and strategies for sustainable business growth.
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· NECA stressed that the fair aligns with its broader mission of promoting enterprise development and economic resilience.
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· “By empowering MSMEs with the right support and information, the organisation aims to stimulate job creation, innovation, and long-term economic stability”, NECA said.
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· The 2025 MSMEs Fair is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including financiers, tech experts, regulators, and industry leaders, all united in advancing the growth of Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says over two million passengers have been transported on the Blue Line Rail since its launch, while state-run buses move an average of 42,000 commuters daily.
Osiyemi, who disclosed this during the Year 2025 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on Tuesday, noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, was now in its implementation phase, focusing on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
“On rail development, Phase One of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has served over two million passengers, with Phase Two (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) in progress.
“Phase One of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stocks procured, while Phase two (Oyingbo to link Blue Line at National Theatre) is underway”, he said.
The Commissioner said in the state-owned bus operations, over 60 million commuters have been served since 2019, with daily ridership exceeding 40,000.
He also said plans were on to deploy new buses with Quality Bus Corridors under construction, adding that the Abule=Egba Bus Terminal had also been commissioned.
“For water transport, 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries have been launched and are in operation, with the Ijegun Egba Terminal now open.
“The OMI EKO project, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), will deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries.
“Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards”, he said.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner said 49 junction improvement projects had been completed, including ongoing ones at Ikorodu, Iju, as well as Allen-Opebi-Toyin axis.
He added that solar-powered Traffic Signal Lights, road markings covering 67.9km, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking lots had also been provided.
Additionally, Osiyemi announced that the deployed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras had detected over 470,000 traffic violations and that the Vehicle Inspection Service issued over one million roadworthiness certificates.
He also said that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute trained more than 32,000 drivers in the past 13 months.
The event marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, showcasing major strides in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos