Akwa Ibom transporters, under the aegis of the Transport Operators Movement, have condemned the 25 years lease of Akwa Ibom Transport Corporation to Nsik Motors.

They alleged that the deal was unilaterally sealed on behalf of the government by a former Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Godwin Ntukudeh, in favour of his friend, Mr. Nsikak Johnny, the Managing Director of Nsik Motors.

The TOM’s chairman, Mr. Kingsley Akpan, who spoke on behalf of the members during a media briefing on Sunday in Uyo, the state capital, warned that there would be no peace in the state unless government revoked the new contract.

Akpan described the 25 years contract awarded to Nsik Motors as a ploy by Ntukudeh and top management of Nsik Motors, saying such contract was illegal and unacceptable because other stakeholder in the transport sector in the state were not contacted before the contract was signed.

Akpan said it was wrong for Nsik Motors to be given another term of leasing after the expiration of the one he had for 16 years in 2014.

He said, “It is not right for the state government to have signed another 25 years deal of its transport firm to Nsik Motors Managing Director, Nsikak Johnny, because he is not the only Akwa Ibom son that has interest in running the company.

“There are many members who are also interested and capable of running the company. And Nsik Motors has already had a16-year deal with the AKTC which terminated in 2014.

“We are therefore calling on the government to give another transport operator an opportunity to run the company.

“Nobody was aware of the arrangement to give out AKTC to Nsik Motors again, which convinces us that it was a secret plan between the former Commissioner for Transport, Godwin Ntukudeh and MD, Nsik Motors, Nsikak Johnny.”

Attempts to speak with Ntukudeh and Johnny proved abortive as both of them did not answer calls made to their telephones.

They did not also respond to text messages sent to their mobile phones on the matter.

 

Source: Punchng.com

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