…Targets Improved Relations Between Transporters, Passengers

Transport operators under the auspices of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ogun State, have received certificates in conflict resolution after participating in a three-day training programme organised in collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture, (FUNAAB), Abeokuta.

The training was facilitated by FUNAAB’s Institute of Communication and General Studies through its Peace and Development Studies Programme.

The aims of the training was to equip participants with the skills to resolve disputes, foster better relationships with passengers, and effectively discharge their responsibilities as transport operators and employers.

The certificates were presented to all participants by the State Chairman, Alhaji Akibu Titilayo, Efele, represented by the Deputy Chairman (Administration), Otunba Segun Johnson, during the meeting at the RTEAN’s secretariat in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Speaking after the presentation, RTEAN State Secretary, Tiwalade Akingbade, said the training was designed to strengthening members’ capacity to resolve conflicts, foster better relationships with passengers and discharge their duties effectively as transport operators and employers.

Akingbade said the programme also provided participants with opportunities to further their education through advanced qualifications, including an advanced certificate and a diploma in conflict resolution.

He noted that the training was crucial in addressing the negative perception of transport operators as difficult to deal with, despite their frequent interactions with passengers and other members of the public.

The secretary noted that members also needed conflict management skills to deal effectively with their drivers and manage their transport businesses.

He described the participants’ experience at FUNAAB as rewarding, commending the university for making the training accessible and understandable to the learners

“As transporters, the way people see us in society is that we are the difficult ones to deal with. And you know, we deal with many people. We deal with many passengers,”

“We are employers. We own vehicles. We have many vehicles that are working for us. We have drivers that we should manage. So, that is the reason we went for the course,”

“They were taught in the language they could understand and they really enjoyed themselves” Akingbade said.

The RTEAN secretary divulged that the first batch had generated interest among other members, with more than 20 prospective participants reportedly on the waiting list for subsequent training sessions.

“The 20 participants are the first version, and so far, so good. We have some intended students. The people that are on the waiting list, there are more than 20 that want to go for the programme because the people that went for the programme told them what they gained there, and they were impressed,” he noted.

One of the participants, Osioyemi Osinyemi Olasunkanmi, who received a certificate in conflict resolution, said the training had changed his perception of the university and demonstrated that transport union members could benefit from structured academic programmes.

He commended the organisers and lecturers for the quality of the instruction, expressing confidence that the participants would apply the knowledge acquired in their daily activities.

According to him, the training had positioned the participants as ambassadors of the road transport sector, adding that they would not disappoint in the responsibility.

In a related development, members of the association benefited from a medical screening exercise held on Tuesday at the RTEAN secretariat in Abeokuta, where health professionals conducted blood pressure and blood sugar checks.

Dr. Fashola Caleb from Ogun State Ministry of Health said the exercise had enabled medical personnel to identify some participants with health concerns and counsel them on the need to seek further medical attention.

“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 said.

He added that participants who required further investigations had been advised to visit nearby hospitals as soon as possible.

The doctor said more than 100 people had been screened or attended to during the exercise, noting that members continued to come forward for checks several hours after the programme began.

Caleb urged commercial drivers to prioritise their health, stressing that medical emergencies behind the wheel could endanger passengers and other road users.

“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 said.

He advised drivers to undergo regular medical check-ups, comply with medical instructions and visit their doctors when necessary.

Caleb also recommended that transport associations organise periodic eye-screening exercises and take medical services closer to drivers at motor parks and garages to encourage greater participation.

He further advised drivers to abstain from alcohol before driving, keep their driver’s licences up to date, maintain their vehicles properly and observe road safety regulations.

The doctor recommended similar health programmes for other transport associations, including those representing commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators, saying regular screening could help detect illnesses early and potentially save lives.