By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Customers to the Niger State Tranaport Authority (NSTA) has called for close monitoring of the day-to-day workings of the transportation company in order to not only curtail exploitative tendencies by suspected touts working in active connivance with staff of the company for personal gains but avert impending disasters.
The call on the Governor Mohammed Umar Bago led administration to monitor what is happening in NSTA have become necessary as more customers fall victim to unprofessional and unwholesome attitudes towards travellers who either have their luggage damaged or forced to join unregistered transportation companies and exposing them to security risks.
Most often, customers are forced to pay for luggage, no matter how little, but the goods/luggage are not properly handled after collecting huge sums, causing the victims to incur unexpected damages.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the touts, Philip Osaro (not real names) said he boarded the NSTA from Minna to Lagos, but had almost all his luggage damaged due to the carelessness of the touts whom he accused of being more interested in collecting monies than the comfort and safety of travelers patronizing the company.
Philip who recalled an incident that would have caused loss of innocent lives and properties last Saturday if not God's intervention said, "We were on-board to Lagos, and in less than an hour after take off almost all the load inside the booth of the bus fell off, including food items and traveling bags and scattered along the highway".
While the original seats were adjusted and this made it impossible for passengers to be a bit comfortable, Philip said, "God saved us, no vehicle was following us closely else it would have been a disaster because the driver was distracted by the sudden noise when the booth opened and the content started falling off on the road".
Another customer who recalled her unfavorable experience traveling from Ilorin, Kwara state capital to Minna few weeks back narrated how she had gone to the NSTA bus stand, besides the Nigerian Airforce, near unity road but was forced to join an unmarked bus the unit Manager claimed belonged to Kaduna state government.
After waiting for over four hours to be conveyed from ilorin to Minna, Zaynab, (not real name) said she and other passengers were forced to join the bus from Kaduna that was very unconducive for long journies.
Zaynab who said she had arrived the bus stand before 7:30am said, "We waited till past ten before they brought another bus and told us that the NSTA but is not going again. At least they should have told us on time or allow us to chose alternative".
These agents or touts are more intrested in what they're getting, not on the security or comfort of passengers, if not, why would they keep us for hours till a time we will not be able to make alternative choice?
We all know what is happening in Nigeria today, Zaynab said, arguing that coarsing customers to join another or unfamiliar transportation company against his/her wish or under whatsoever reason should not be encouraged by the NSTA management because, "it is very dangerous".
They are therefore appealing to Governor Bago to monitor what is going on in NSTA with a view to ensuring safety and comfort of customers comes first, above the personal gains of people working for the benefits of themselves and some management staff of the company. NNL.
