Transport

Motorists Lament Increasing Number Of Touts

Published

12 years ago

February 19, 2014

Motorists plying Port
Harcourt and its environs have cried out to the Rivers State Government to urgently come to their aid following the increasing number of touts working for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
A cross section of motorists who spoke with The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt last Monday said the situation had become so embarrassing that one could not drive along the roads and streets of Port Harcourt.
According to them, some of the touts who wear uniforms of different colours jump into cars and even drag keys with drivers without any genuine traffic offences.
They lamented that the trend, if not checked, would bring embarrassment to the state as most of them are non indigenes.
They lamented that touts have taken over the parks and bus stops while others used hired unpainted vehicles to carry out their nefarious activities, which had in recent to drivers, both private and commercial.
A victim, Hillary Nwaeke, who is a commercial driver said on the fateful day, he had bought the daily ticket with his bucket in the vehicle before the hoodlums jumped into the car and dragged his car key from him that I have no stickers. “I tried to explain to them that tickets are yet to be sold but all fell on deaf ears”, he said.
According to the driver, they over powered him, Barrister snatched his phone and used their master key bounch to drive the car to Marine Base, where they packed and deflated the tyres, and asked him to pay N18,000,
Another victim, Barrister Chidi Enyia who also narrated his ordeal with the touts said he was driving to his office at Ikwerre Road when two touts suddenly entered into his car and said he parked wrongly and impounded his car to Rukpoku, where he was asked to pay the sum of N20,000, and the recommended him for a driving and psychiatric tests.
The legal luminary however called on the government to swoop on these boys and stop their nefarious activities.
Another commercial driver, Akeem Taiwo, who narrated his ordeal in the hands of the touts last Thursday, disclosed that three young men took him on a drop from Rumuokoro to Port Harcourt Township, but on reaching station bus stop, they confronted him that he was driving unpainted taxi and that they are members of the taskforce.
On reaching there, he said, he saw other cars parked and their tyres deflated and that his plea for the release of the car fell on deaf ears as he was asked to pay the sum of N25,000.
Taiwo, who is still feeling the shock said these touts who operates on mufty with the assistance of police officers at times should be checked, while questioning if their operations are known to the Ministry of Transport, the police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and of course the National Union of Road Transport Workers positing that a stich in time saves nine, he posited.
Meanwhile, attempts to get the reaction from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. George Tolofari proved abortive at his press officer, Kenoye Abia Declined to cooperate while the secretary of Port Harcourt city local government council, Mr. Theophilus Akubo said they have no taskforce in Port Harcourt.
In his own reaction, the Deputy State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Rivers State, Pastor Ominiayebagha Duma Kalango said he had not experienced if there are touts on the roads, or they are political agents.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Kidaya Muhammed could not be reached as calls were being diverted.

Business

ABC Transport Founder Bags Transport, Logistics Award

Published

1 week ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

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.

Business

FAAN Gives Deadline for Vehicle Standards, Tariff for Airport Taxis

Published

1 week ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has given October 2026 deadline for taxis operating at the Lagos and Abuja airports to abide by its directives of complying with operational standard and the increase of tariff from N500 to N1,500.

A statement from FAAN’s management explained that as an organisation committed to delivering safe, secure, efficient, and world-class airport services, FAAN considers it necessary to provide clarification on the issues raised and to reassure the travelling public that every action being taken is aimed at enhancing passenger experience and maintaining acceptable service standards at the airports.

“Airports are the gateways to any nation and often provide the first and last impression of a country’s image. Consequently, FAAN has a responsibility not only to ensure safety and security but also to uphold service quality across all touch-points that passengers encounter, including airport transportation services.

“So, the directive requiring airport cab operators to upgrade to newer vehicle models is informed by the need to improve reliability, comfort, safety, and overall passenger satisfaction. This is consistent with international best practices and aligns with FAAN’s ongoing efforts to elevate service standards across its airports,” the agency said.

It also noted that passengers who utilise airport taxi services deserve clean, roadworthy, comfortable, and professionally maintained vehicles that reflect the premium environment expected of a modern international airport.

“The adjustment from N500 to N1,500 should therefore be viewed within the context of prevailing economic realities and the need to sustain critical airport infrastructure and services. Even with the review, FAAN remains mindful of the challenges faced by operators and has continued to engage stakeholders constructively,” the agency said.

Transport

Automated Points Concession : FAAN Workers Gave 72hrs To Revise Decisions In PH

Published

4 months ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The trapatriate Unions conprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), has given 72 hours Ultimatum to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Omagwa Airport, Portharcourt to revise its recent decision on the concession of Tollgates and Parks to private hands.

The chairman of the Trapatriate Union, Comrade Felix Ohwoefe gave the Ultimatum yesterday immediately after the joint Unions meeting held at the Airport office of the union, Omagwa, Portharcourt.

Comrade Ohwoefe who double as the chairman of the National Union of NUATE said the two Unions have agreed to take drastic actions if the Authority of the Airport declined to step down it’s decision of concessioning the major revenue points to private hands.

According to the Union chairman, the two union was not aware of the concession plans, and that there were no due process to the procedures.

Comrade Ohwoefe said any attempt for the Airport Management to decline it’s demands towards the concession will result to barricading all entrance and access points of the Airport.

Expressing the the challenges associated to the concession, the Union Chairman said the gesture might resulted to massive sack of workers in the Airport.

The chairman also expressed foul play on the part of either individuals or government in the terms and conditions so given to the concessionaires, demanding the reasons of contracting the automated points to private hands for only 14 millions, when the FAAN is presently generating over 28 million naira monthly, even when the tariff was not reviewed upwards.

He describes the process to the procedures as fraud with intention to increase unemployment in the state.

“We are not against the concession of the Automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.

“Secondly, if the concessionaires is taken over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently, we are generating to the Management over 28 Millions monthly, but we had that the private company is required to pay only 14 Millions monthly, which is far below 5 percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.

“The process is fraud either on the part of individual in the Government, or Government itself.

” The unions is saying no to the Concession until we come to a terms of understanding ourselves., we are afraid of loosing workers, we don’t want to loose any workers if due process is not followed in this hard of economy, we even demanding for employment of more workers in FAAN.” Comrade Ohwoefe said.

The Union used the opportunity to called on the minister of aviation, and the President of the Country, Bola Tinubu to intervene.

When contacting the Management of the Airport Authority through the head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, she said the management has not given her the approval to say something.