Mr. Lawal Yusuf Othman, NARTO President.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The officials of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have written to the Edo state government on ways of collaborating to properly develop the maritime modes of transportation in and around the state.
Thus much was disclosed to us by the state chairman of the association, Mr. Godwin Asemota who spoke to us in his office in Benin City. Chairman Asemota noted that in line with the principles and policies as enunciated by the national president of NARTO, Mr. Lawal Yusuf Othman on the need for collaboration and his constant cooperation with the various governments and their agencies, he and his team are willing and ready to work with the Edo State government to improve the service rendered in the water transportation sub-sector.
Mr. Godwin Asemota, the Edo state chapter, NARTO chairman.
Among other issues spoken about by the chairman, he said that “Most of the policies and programmes of the Othman led national body are being seen and felt as the president has been liaising with the federal government over the repair of damaged portions of most federal roads, the collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the distribution of electoral materials, the Nigerian Police Force and some other agencies of government within the country and we intend to always align our programmes towards the common objectives as espoused by the national president of the association”.
Mr. Asemota also said that the national president has been collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and state governments in a bid to secure loans for members to procure more vehicles for cargo and especially passenger transportation in order to break the monopolistic type of hold on passenger transportation and bring down the cost of movements from one point to the other.
The state chairman indicated that the Edo state government has indicated interest in their proposal for the improvement and expansion of the maritime transportation, but also said that the government asked them to be patient as some of these projects take time from the feasibility studies stage to the planning and execution stage. On the question about members’ welfare, the chairman answered that members welfare is at the forefront of the resolution of issues that they experience and also that it is at the heart of the collaboration with the various government agencies including the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police and others as the issues that make work difficult to members and their workers are thrashed out at the stakeholders meetings.
The chairman who wad sworn in last December with his executive members noted that he has so far had a very cordial relationship with members as well as the state government. He added that the Edo state government had never been known to invite NARTO to any event, but that that has changed as they are now being invited to some of the programmes of the government, he also says that the FRSC has so far invited the association to at least three events that they have organised since he was sworn in as the chairman.
The chairman noted that as part of the state chapter’s programme during his tenure, they propose to have parks where members can park their vehicles, he said that they are also about to launch the newly acquired towing vehicles that will be used to remove broken down vehicles in order to avoid or minimise or mitigate the effects that broken down vehicles may have on other road users.
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