Female Commercial Drivers Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has demanded that the FCT Administration incorporate its members into the Sure-P Taxi scheme like their male counterparts.
The body has approached the FCT Administration for the approval and release of 150 taxis to the association to enable its members benefit from the Sure-P transportation scheme.
The group’s spokesperson, Miss Eunice Odeghe, in company of other members of the association, led by the chairperson of FCT National Council of Women Society, Mrs. Nancy Bulus, to the office of the Secretary, FCT Transport Secretariat, Engr. Jonathan Ivoke, said despite the fact that women were regarded as the weaker sex, members of the association were poised to make a difference in the transport sector.
The group assured the secretary that if the taxis were released, it would enable the association empower other women and youths in the territory, adding that, “when you empower a woman, you have empowered the nation.”
It said it was poised to establish a micro-economic project for the overall benefit of women and youths irrespective of tribe or religion through their “Female Drivers Project.”
Odegbe said: “This project is basically one of our pet projects aimed at preparing and empowering especially women and youths in the area of commercial driving business venture. This we believe has the capacity of enabling the beneficiaries to cater for their individual needs and that of their various families.”
She, however, commended the transport secretariat for ‘check mating road transporters in the territory’, adding that the implementation of the new transport policy that restricted the activities of mini bus operators to the satellite towns has brought sanity to the sector.
In his response, Ivoke said the request to fathom the female commercial drivers into the Sure-P Taxi scheme was in line with the administration’s blueprint of involving every segment of the society in its policy drive.
He, therefore, commended the leadership of NCWS for not taking the back seat in the development of the territory.
He added that there was the need to collaborate with the female drivers as the females are more careful in carrying out critical duties.
Ivoke, however, said the group must undergo certain requirements before the approval would be granted, even as he assured the female drivers that their request of 150 taxis would be forwarded to the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed for consideration.
“I have no doubt in my mind that you will do better than your male counterparts. Experiences have shown that our women are more careful in handling critical assignments. However, we are not going to take things for granted. I will direct our officers from VIO office to train your members on some of the techniques of driving and the use of road signages.”