Transport
Pick Pockets Relocate From Bus Stop
Commuters and traders at Mararaba bus stop in Nasarawa, have breathed a sigh of relief following the sudden disappearance of pick pockets in the area.
An investigation carried out by our correspondent recently showed that the traffic hold-ups witnessed in the early hours of the day, as a result of the activities of hoodlums at the bus stop had subsided.
Mr Njoku Uwalaka, a road side trader at the bus stop, told newsmen “I am happy that the notorious incident of pick pockets at this bus stop, have reduced considerably.’’
“The regular complaints of handset, hand-bag and wallet snatching have not been so rampant for about two months now. In fact, it is a brand new turn of events.
“For some few years, I have been operating here, there have been rampant cases of hand sets, hand bags and wallets snatching by hoodlums at this bus stop, and that gave this place a very bad name anywhere you go.
He said that for about two months now “we have heaved a sigh of relief because the frequent lamentations by commuters and our customers have subsided”.
Uwalaka noted that the experience was as a result of the presence of policemen positioned at the spot every morning and evening, as they always monitor the movement of people at those peak periods.
“I want to believe that the situation would be sustained and even improved upon by the police to bring sanity to this Mararaba bus stop in particular,” he said.
Mr Nelson Emmanuel, a commercial bus operator, told newsmen at the bus stop that his passengers lost handsets to the pickpockets in April.
“The hoodlums, who always pose as commuters, snatched the handsets at hold-ups through the window of the vehicle and disappeared.
“We are now happy, because in the past one month, the situation has changed since the police have been taking positions at this bus stop to check the menace,” he said.
On the contrary, Miss Favour Okorie, a student of Nasarawa State University, Lafia, was of the opinion that the situation has not changed as “the pick pockets are still around.”
“Just last week, I was coming with a bike from Ado to this bus stop, I didn’t know that one boy was pursuing me, it was when I got down, I noticed that the boy was after me to snatch my handset.
“I quickly changed the position of my handset, so as he couldn’t reach me again, he changed direction and moved away.
Okorie said that another experience she had was when she arrived the bus stop under the pedestrian bridge that same week, two men attempted to snatch her hand
The Founder of ABC Transport Plc, Mr. Frank Nneji, has been honoured with an award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth, development and transformation of Nigeria’s transportation and logistics industry.
The award was presented by the management of City Business News Online during the organisation’s 10th Anniversary Celebration held in Lagos recently.
The event, which attracted leading stakeholders from the maritime, logistics, transportation, energy, banking and capital market sectors, marked a decade of impactful business journalism and industry reporting.
It also served as a platform to recognise institutions and individuals whose contributions have significantly impacted national development and economic growth.
Presenting the award, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, former Corp Marshall of FRSC, President, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) and Keynote Speaker at the 10th Anniversary Lecture held in Lagos recently commended ABC Transport PLC for sustaining innovations.
For more than three decades, Nneji has remained at the forefront of efforts to modernise intercity transportation in Nigeria through the introduction of world-class operational standards, passenger safety initiatives and innovative transport solutions.
As the founder of ABC Transport Plc, he transformed what began as a modest transport enterprise into one of West Africa’s most recognised transportation and logistics brands, adding that the company today operates in more than 100 locations across Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and the Benin Republic, providing passenger transport, logistics and related services.
ABC Transport Plc also made history as the first transport company to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, a milestone that opened new opportunities for investment in the transport sector and broadened public participation in the company’s growth.
The company currently boasts over 22,000 shareholders.
Beyond transportation services, Nneji has played a significant role in advancing local vehicle assembly and industrial development through TSS Motors, a subsidiary of ABC Transport Plc.
Through its assembly plant in Enugu, the company assembles FORLAND vehicles, TSS trailers and SHACMAN trucks, contributing to local content development, job creation and Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing aspirations.
Industry stakeholders have often credited Nneji with pioneering innovations that elevated standards in the transport sector, particularly in areas of fleet management, passenger comfort, safety compliance and professional service delivery.
A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nneji has continued to enhance his leadership and management capabilities through executive education programmes, including the Chief Executive Programme at the Lagos Business School and advanced executive training at the Wharton Business School.
His contributions to transportation and logistics have earned him several professional and national recognitions. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and has served in various leadership positions, including former President of the Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
The award, according to the organisers, is a testament to Nneji’s enduring legacy as a pioneer, industry leader and nation-builder whose contributions continue to shape the future of transportation and logistics in Nigeria and West Africa.
