…to work towards merger of the two associations
Commercial bus operators going under the name Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) and the Association of Mass Transit Operators of Nigeria (AMTO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the formation of an alliance known as ALBON & AMTO Alliance.
Moov Logistics News was told the alliance will work towards the merger of the two associations and indeed seek to bring all bus owners/operators throughout the country into one United Inter-state Bus Association for all the bus owners and operators in Nigeria.
ALBON members include: The Young Shall Grow Motor Ltd; Chisco Transport Nigeria Ltd; ABC Transport Plc; GUO Transport Nigeria Ltd; Bonyway Motors Nigeria Ltd; Ifesinachi Industries Nigeria Ltd; Cross Country City Bus Ltd etc into the coalition
The major AMTO members are Peace Mass Transit Ltd; Okeson Nigeria Ltd; Onitsha South Mass Transit Ltd; Chukwuonye Mass Transit Ltd, among others.
In seeking to promote and advance the common interest of all inter-state bus owners and operators in Nigeria, the MOU further states that the Coalition shall endeavor to reach out to all other inter-state passenger-bus owners/operators across the country.
MLN learnt the central objectives of the coalition is to create an avenue not only to speak with one voice but also to address all such issues of common interests affecting all bus owners and operators in Nigeria.
The challenges common to the two associations were enumerated as
- Bad road network in the country;
- Multiple taxes/levies on the inter-state passengers transport business in Nigeria;
- Insecurity on the nation’s highway across the country;
- High incidence of operational costs arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange;
- Counterfeit motor spare parts;
- High cost of AGO and fuel,
- High import duties rate of 35% on inter-state passenger buses imported into the country.
The alliance appointed a steering committee comprising eight members, led by Sir Dan Okemuo, President of ALBON and Chief G.N. Inyaba, the National President of AMTO to direct the affairs of the Coalition
In a statement by the Chairman, Steering Committee of ALBON & AMTO Coalition, Sir Dan Okemuo said “ALBON, as a party, is bringing all its members comprising major stakeholders in the Luxury Bus Industry in Nigeria.
“Similarly, AMTO, as a party, is bringing all its members, who are all major stakeholders in the Mass Transit Business in Nigeria, into the Coalition as well.
Sources told MLN that the MoU which was signed at Enugu on May 11, 2017 stipulated that the ALBON & AMTO Coalition would henceforth be the official platform for the two registered associations in the transport business in Nigeria to speak with one voice on all issues of common interests in inter-state passengers transport business.
