COVID-19: Commercial transport operators count losses in Kaduna

Losses

By Moses Kolo

Kaduna, April 16, 2020 (NAN) Operators of transportation companies in Kaduna say their business is suffering great losses due to the lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

Managers of some of the outfits, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, said that business had been at a standstill in the last four weeks.

They attributed the lull in business to the Federal and Kaduna State Governments’ declaration of total lockdown.

“This situation is very unhealthy for the transportation industry,” Mr Stanley Ehadioah, Manager, GNT Ltd, Kaduna told NAN.

He said that most of his staff, including drivers, had since sought for other means of livelihood as they were usually paid based on some commission per trip.

“It is indeed not a good time for transportation industry because the gains depend on the movement of persons and goods.

“People will only pay for a service rendered and once that service is grounded, loss is inevitable,’’ Ehadioah said.

He said that his transport ferries passengers from Kaduna to Delta, daily, before the lockdown set in.

“But, since the lockdown began, people no longer travel,” he said.

Mr Kadiri Ahmad, a staff of Halliru Travels, Kawo, said that the outfit was able to embark on brisk journeys, especially every Tuesday and Wednesday, as permitted by the state government.

“Outside that period, no business takes place. We are able to operate within these periods but under strict adherence to government’s instructions of taking minimal passengers per vehicle.

“Unfortunately, we are forced to slightly hike the fares and this is vehemently opposed by passengers, who will prefer not to travel,’’ Ahmad said.

Mr Charles Christopher of Ebenezer Save Travels, Kawo told NAN that the company had suspended travels in the past few weeks in line with government’s directive.

Christopher added that the development had stopped the company’s only source of income.

“Our vehicles travel to the eastern parts of the country and even with the relaxation of curfew on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, we still can’t operate as most eastern states are observing total lockdown too,’’ he said. (NAN)

MGK/ORO/AIB
=============

Edited by Razak Owolabi/Abdulfatah Babatunde