Fuel Crisis: Female drivers seek CNG support, inclusion in transport reforms

The Founder and President of the association, Eunice Odeghe, expressed this concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Odeghe described the CNG initiative as a welcome and more economical alternative but said none of her members had benefited from the government’s CNG conversion programme.

“It has not been easy. Sometimes, you buy fuel for N30,000, and it gives you just a few litres.

“You travel long distances and may get only two passengers, paying less than N1,000. You cannot make ends meet.

“If women can be considered for it, that would be good. We are ready to be trained, and we are ready to have our cars converted.

“A few of us have converted ours independently,” she said.

She appealed to the government to increase the number of CNG stations across the country, lamenting that drivers spent up to six hours queuing to refill.

“For someone using it for business, spending a whole day in a queue is not encouraging,” she said.

On the recent announcement of fare reductions at NNPC stations for commercial drivers, she said the idea was good but its implementation was flawed.

Speaking on the association’s objectives, Odeghe said driving was not just about moving from one point to another but also a pathway to financial freedom for women.

She said the association aimed to promote women in the transport sector, empower them through driving as a source of income and advocate gender balance in the transport system.

“We discovered that some women own vehicles but do not use them to generate income.

“Those vehicles are supposed to provide an additional source of income,” she said.

She said the association, with support from agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), trained women to become professional drivers who could meet workplace policies and safety standards.

Odeghe added that about 200 women had been trained from scratch to become professional drivers, while others joined the association after receiving training.

She said the association also educated women on protecting themselves from crime on the road and identifying human trafficking, in partnership with the Network Against Child Trafficking (NATC) and other international bodies.

“We also equipped them with additional skills, such as fish farming, poultry farming and catering, to support their family incomes.

“We want peace in the home. When a woman contributes to meeting the family’s needs, it brings peace,” she said.

Odeghe said the association had about one million women drivers across the federation, with branches in several states.

She called for greater inclusion of female drivers in the ongoing transport reforms.

“Women should be part of decision-making in the transport sector. We need more women’s voices at the decision-making level,” she said.

She appealed to the government to train more women as professional drivers and provide vehicles on loan at reasonable rates, noting that most women could not access bank loans to purchase vehicles.

“If the government gives 10 vehicles to women, it will empower 10 families and help reduce poverty,” she said.

On harassment on the road, Odeghe acknowledged that driving was male-dominated and said female drivers faced intimidation and harassment from male colleagues and sometimes passengers.

“When they see you in their side mirrors, they intimidate you by honking their horns and saying, ‘Why don’t you go and look for a driver instead of driving?’

“We are not competing with them. The sky is wide enough to accommodate everybody,” she said.

She, however, commended men who encouraged female drivers, stressing that the association worked with transport unions, the police and other relevant authorities to resolve harassment cases.

Speaking on frequent tanker-related crashes, she urged strict enforcement of the policy restricting tankers to night movement and called for dedicated truck lanes similar to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane in Lagos.

“Tanker drivers carry hazardous products. Any mistake can cause significant damage.

“Some of them do not get enough rest. The government should strengthen enforcement,” she said.

Odeghe urged female drivers to prioritise family well-being, stressing that domestic peace is essential for maintaining focus and safety while driving.(NAN)

JIN/ROT

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi