Apparently worried by the June 3rd deadline by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Administration to ban the operators of mini buses popularly known as Araba from operating within the city centre, owners and drivers of mini buses town service association yesterday opposed the policy, describing it as inhuman.
The association urged the minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed to shelve the idea, pointing out that the policy will worsen the security situation in the territory.
The association also noted that the planed ban of the mini buses was ill timed and would throw its numerous members into the already saturated labour market, adding that the FCT authorities were yet to put necessary infrastructure or palliative measures to occasion such ban.
Handing over a petition to the chairman senate committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, secretary of the association, Prince Charles Ikwuegbu told the committee members that they were at the National Assembly to register their protest against the FCT transport policy.
Prince Ikwuegbu said “We are not in any way in support of this policy in its entirety. We are of the opinion that government should first concern itself with the full establishment of transport infrastructure such as functional railway system, designated bus stops, tariffs, motor packs or terminals, effective traffic regulation regime, palliative for drivers and owners etc.”
Speaking further, Ikwuegbu urged the FCT administration to ponder on the hardship experienced by FCT residents during the last January 14th and 15th implementation of the policy, adding that the policy if implemented will inflict more hardship on Nigerians.
Addressing the protesters, Senator Adeyemi said that the transport policy will continue although with human face, adding that the government will carry along the association in the programme.
The lawmaker promised that his committee would meet with the FCT authorities to find a lasting solution to the lingering transport crises.
The FCT authorities early in January suspended the implementation of the ban as a result of complains from the FCT residents.