RTEAN pushes for Bank of Transportation – Daily Trust

The Ogun State chapter of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has referred to as on the Federal Government to ascertain a Bank of Transportation to offer inexpensive financing for operators within the highway transport sector.

The State Secretary of RTEAN, Aare Tiwalade Akingbade, mentioned the proposed financial institution would allow transport operators to entry loans at single-digit rates of interest of between 4 and 9 per cent, serving to them purchase autos, increase their companies and enhance service supply.

He spoke on Tuesday throughout a gathering on the affiliation’s secretariat in Abeokuta, the place he insisted that transportation enterprise stays a key driver of any nation’s financial system.

Akingbade, who disclosed that the affiliation had submitted a number of proposals to the Federal Government, expressed optimism that the federal government would contemplate and implement them, significantly the institution of a devoted monetary establishment for the transportation sector.

He argued that the prevailing lending charges provided by standard monetary establishments have been too excessive for transport operators to maintain worthwhile companies.

“If you are in the road transportation business and have to obtain loans from the same financial institutions that lend to operators in sectors such as oil and gas, at interest rates of 25 per cent, how do you expect to repay such loans and remain profitable?” he requested.

According to him, the affiliation shouldn’t be searching for monetary help within the kind of free cash however a devoted platform by way of which operators can acquire loans at inexpensive charges.

“We are not asking for free money. All we are asking for is a dedicated platform that will give transportation operators access to loans at affordable, single-digit interest rates of between four and nine per cent,” Akingbade mentioned.

He careworn that an environment friendly, dependable and inexpensive transportation system was important to significant financial growth, noting that highway transportation remained the dominant mode of transport as a result of it related passengers to different means of transportation, together with rail, water and air.

In a associated growth, members of the Ogun State chapter of RTEAN have obtained certificates in battle decision following a three-day value-added coaching programme organised in collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

The coaching, which concerned 20 individuals, was facilitated by way of FUNAAB’s Institute of Communication and General Studies underneath its Peace and Development Studies Programme.

Certificates have been introduced to the beneficiaries by the State Chairman, Alhaji Akibu Titilayo Efele, represented by the Deputy Chairman (Administration), Otunba Segun Johnson, on the Tuesday assembly of  the affiliation.

Speaking with newsmen after the presentation, Akingbade mentioned the programme was designed to equip members with the abilities to handle disputes, enhance relationships with passengers and successfully deal with their obligations as transport operators and employers.

He defined that the programme additionally provided individuals alternatives to advance their information by way of greater {qualifications}, together with a sophisticated certificates and a diploma in battle decision.

According to him, the coaching was significantly necessary as a result of of the notion that transport operators have been tough to take care of, regardless of their each day interactions with passengers and different members of the general public.

Akingbade added that members wanted battle administration abilities to deal successfully with their drivers and handle their transport companies.

One of the individuals, Osioyemi Osinyemi Olasunkanmi, who obtained a certificates in battle decision, mentioned the coaching had modified his notion of the college and demonstrated that transport union members may benefit from structured educational programmes.

In a associated growth, members of the affiliation benefited from a medical screening train, the place well being professionals performed blood stress and blood sugar checks.

Dr Fashola Caleb of the Ogun State Ministry of Health mentioned the train had enabled medical personnel to establish some individuals with well being considerations and counsel them on the necessity to search additional medical consideration.

“We have seen a lot of them so far, and some of them had complaints that we have attended to. It was as if this programme was designed for some of them because we have actually been able to pick one or two of them that had some disease, and we have counselled them appropriately,” Caleb mentioned.

He added that individuals who required additional investigations had been suggested to go to close by hospitals as quickly as doable.

The physician mentioned greater than 100 individuals had been screened or attended to in the course of the train, noting that members continued to come back ahead for checks a number of hours after the programme started.

Caleb urged business drivers to prioritise their well being, stressing that medical emergencies behind the wheel may endanger passengers and different highway customers.

“Generally, for drivers, they need to pay attention to their health because we don’t pray that they have emergencies. But if emergencies should happen while they are on their duty, it can affect other people’s lives,” he mentioned.

He suggested drivers to endure common medical check-ups, adjust to medical directions and go to their medical doctors when essential.

Caleb additionally advisable that transport associations organise periodic eye-screening workout routines and take medical companies nearer to drivers at motor parks and garages to encourage better participation.

He additional suggested drivers to abstain from alcohol earlier than driving, maintain their driver’s licences updated, preserve their autos correctly and observe highway security rules.