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Following the lifting of the ban on interstate travel by the Federal Government, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has denied that it was planning to increase the cost of transportation in the country.
The Acting General Secretary of the union, Mr Kabiru Yau, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the vehicle owners rather than the workers union were responsible for any increase.
Yau was reacting to some media publications that the union requested for government ‘s support in the form of transport subsidy or it will increase the cost of transportion.
“Following an earlier statement that we (NURTW) will increase transport cost due to the Coronavirus guidelines by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“I wish to state that the NURTW is a workers union that has the interest of Nigeria and the general public at heart.
“It is not our intention or in our place to increase the cost of transportation in the country. The car owners are the ones saddled with that responsibility.
“ The union will continue to do everything within its power to ensure the peace and safety of travellers and Nigerians,” Yau said.
The COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Federal Government requires commercial vehicles to carry 50 per cent passengers on each trip.