The management of Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) has stated that contrary to reports of a looming crisis and tension at the Interchange over the review of service charges, commercial activities at the facility are proceeding smoothly without any hindrance.
In a statement issued by the company’s Director of Operations and Maintenance, Ade Ibileke, on Wednesday, the management questioned why a media report on the review of service at the public transport facility focused on a looming crisis at OTI, when commercial activities and transport operations are ongoing at the Interchange without hindrance.
The statement reads in part: “Contrary to the report, we unequivocally state that there is no tension, looming crisis, or any trouble at the Interchange. Commercial activities and transport operations are proceeding seamlessly within the interchange.
“The interchange has been operating successfully since 2019 without any major incidents, including fire, robbery, or armed attacks. The facility was even successfully secured during the EndSARS crisis in 2020.
“OTI daily caters to over 20,000 passengers with about 45 bus operating companies [National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) – 1, Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) – 13, Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA) – 18, and LAMATA Franchise bus operating companies (BOC) – 13], and over 70 businesses,” it said.
According to the statement, the basis of the report was a commercial dispute between OTI, ALBON, and PTONA, which have been operating at OTI for four consecutive years, a matter which ordinarily should not have drawn media attention, since the company has its internal dispute resolution mechanism to handle such issues.
The OTI management, however, attributed its decision to review its service charge upward to the operating expenses and the cost of its critical inputs.
“For instance, the price of diesel has risen by 214 percent from N350 to N1,100; petrol by 255 percent from N169 to N600, and refuse disposal by 130 percent from N650,000 to N1.5 million.
“All these operating expenses do not include the costs of facility management (cleaning, cleaning materials, security, etc.), repairs, and maintenance costs, and other sundry expenses, which have astronomically increased in recent times,” it stated.
The OTI management said discussions had since commenced with all transport operators at the Interchange on the need to increase charges, with some operators under PTONA already resuming transport operations at the OTI.
“There are ongoing negotiations with all business partners at the interchange to ensure sustainable and continued operations.
“It is, however, surprising to read a report of a looming crisis at the interchange without finding out what happened from the management of the facility,” the statement read.