LOCKDOWN : Transport Group Decries N200bn Loses In 10 Weeks

Worried about the lockdown directive by the federal government to curb the COVID19 spread, the Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA) on Friday, advocated for the immediate lifting of ban on interstate transportation.

Speaking with journalists , National President of the transport group, Engr. Isaac Uhunmwagho said it is imperative to reduce the revenue losses, not only to them, but the national economy, estimating that the transport owners would have lost N200bn in revenue by the end of 10 weeks of the lockdown.

Uhunmwagho who is the leader of over 150 members, decried that since the ban on interstate movement, many businesses have died and more are on the verge of collapse.

He said apart from the huge revenue loss, PTONA members are no longer buoyant to continue the payment of staff salaries, adding, “Thousands of vehicles have been parked redundant for almost three months.

“The cost of restoration of these vehicles to sound condition will be millions of naira.”

The transport owners said while COVID-19 would not go any time soon, the country must learn to live with it and put in place necessary guidelines to contain the spread.

“Thousands of vehicles have been parked redundant for almost three months. The cost of restoration of these vehicles to sound condition will be millions of naira.”

According to him, the reliability of many of these vehicles will not be the same anymore.

“Vehicles were never designed to be left idle, and even if they may restart, numerous mechanical, electrical and system faults are bound to arise, and the transport owners have very little funds left to meet up with these challenges,” Uhunmwagho said.

According to him, 10 per cent, 25 per cent and 35 per cent of businesses died permanently in the first four, eight and 12 weeks.

Uhunmwagho said, “We tried to estimate recently what the financial losses to transport owners/operators might be after 10 weeks. The figures that we were seeing was in the region of N200bn.

“Inability to continue paying salaries to staff has been the plight of many transporters, as the funds are no longer there.