The Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki has said that the ministry will consider the Amalgamated Commercial Riders Association Of Nigeria, ACOMORAN in the disbursement of ten billion naira survival fund for transporters in the country.
Saraki disclosed this when she received the National President of the Association, Adebayo Samsudeen Apelogun and other executive members at the conference Hall of the Ministry in Abuja.
She maintained that the ministry will continue to partner ACOMORAN for the overall good of the sector
The minister said, ”the ministry will collaborate with the association to regulate and transform the sector positively
”We will consider the association in the disbursement of the 10 billion naira palliative for Transport sector operators.
”We ensure will look critically to create enabling environment for manufacturing investors to site plants in Nigeria”
Saraki also commended the move by the association to sanitize the operation in the sector through the Aco Ride Initiative
She promised to open her doors to the Association for partnership and Collaboration when ever the need arises.
The minister also added that she will lias and collaborate with respective states to Sanitize the operations of commercial and Tricycle operations.
Meanwhile, the National President of the association urged the federal government to phase out rickety motorcycles on the roads by providing soft loans for the acquisition of new motorcycles.
He noted that, despite the careless riding by the motorcycle operators which led to lost of many lives, scrapping the means of transportation was not necessary but transforming the transport sector.
Apelogun urged government to dedicate special lanes for commercial motorcycle instead of scraping the operation of commercial motorcycles in the country.
He congratulated the Minister for her appointment, describing it as a well deserved.
It is obvious that you have brought to bear the experience you garnered as the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Affairs as well as an active member of the Senate Committee on Transportation since you assumped office as the Minister. Let me assure you that as an association, we are ready to play our part in ensuring that you did not only succeed but also make an indelible impact that will stand the test of time.
”Before your appointment as Honorable Minister, ACOMORAN has enjoyed a very good relationship with the Ministry. Aside the favorable disposition of the Minister, His Excellency, Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amechi to our affairs which made him personally attend and unveiled our association’s constitution alongside some other dignitaries which included the then Senate Committee Chairman on Transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa.
”It is also gratifying to note that a powerful delegation from this Ministry did not only attend my inauguration as President, but also conducted the entire process of my swearing-in. It was largely for our sake that His Excellency, Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amechi addressed the Press when Lagos State Government and a pocket of other state governments announced ban on the activities of Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles.
”Honorable Minister, our cordial relationship is not limited to the Minister alone. We equally had such robust relationship with the then Permanent Secretary, a very matured man, the then Director, Mass Transit, Dr Anthonia Ekpa who is now the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and practically the entire team in that department. As a group, we believe in symbiotic relationship and we are hopeful that under your watch, we shall sustain and improve on the existing relationship between the Ministry and our Association.
”When you broke the news of the N10B Covid-19 survival funds for transporters in the country by the federal government, it did not come to me as a surprise because I know that going by your track record and that of your colleague, His Excellency, Rt Hon Rotimi Amechi, you will not do less in protecting the interest of those under your supervision, especially in the area of poverty alleviation.
”For you, in particular, it is a known fact that philanthropy is a generational virtue that you inherited from your father (May his soul continue to find rest in aljanah).
‘:At this juncture, permit me to put it on record that during the lockdown, we ensured that our members complied with the sit-at-home directives of government despite the fact that we are populated by low income earners who survive on daily income. We compelled them to comply, expectedly against their wish to control the community transmission as directed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
”To ensure the effectiveness of this order while it lasted, we consistently provided them with palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown. We provided them with face masks, alcohol based sanitizers and bought several infrared thermometers for testing body temperature. We also went ahead to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in the area of enforcement because we know that our major problem in Nigeria is not law making but the enforcement of our laws. There are proofs to back up all that I have stated. As you well know, all these didn’t come cheap. ”He concluded
