PTONA Urges FG to Unban Inter-state Transportation

Owners of the largest fleets of vehicles for road transportation in the country have called on the federal government to consider immediate lifting of the ban on inter-state travels as it plans to reopen the nation’s airports for domestic and international flights.

The group, known as Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association, (PTONA) stated, at a press conference in Lagos, recently, that it was imperative for the federal government to lift the ban because transportation is interconnected and that more importantly, 90 per cent of Nigerians use motor vehicles to move around the country.

According to the National President of PTONA, Engr. Isaac Uhunmwagho, “When a plane lands in Abuja, for instance, some passengers will like to transit to Nasarawa, or elsewhere and these people will need to travel by road.”

Interstate transportation is the engine of any economy, said Uhunmwagho, who identified members of PTONA as owners of the majority of public transport vehicles in Nigeria. “All the biggest names in public transportation are our members. “Consequently, we pride ourselves as being the biggest stakeholders, apart from the government in the transportation of Nigerians around the country.

“We see ourselves as partners to the Government in trying to improve upon the transportation of Nigerians. Towards this end, we are working closely with Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Safety, Nigerian Police, as well as state governments.”

He said transportation was one of four most important elements for human existence after Food, Water and Shelter, adding that the government had a major role to play to ensuring that their citizens do not suffer excessively in being able to transport themselves around.

Thus, he said PTONA wants the government to lift the ban on inter-state transportation as soon as possible, stating that they expected the government to do this before airlines resumed operations.

Also, they want the government to introduce necessary guidelines and protocols that would enable Nigerians travel safely in the midst of COVID-19, according to Uhunmwagho who had with him some members of PTONA.

“This is most important for two reasons: COVID-19 will not be gone in the next one, two or even six months. We need to learn how to live alongside with COVID-19, and apply all necessary measures.