I am calling the attention of Chief Osita Chidoka, the Chief Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC)to the state of safety of the Sienna and other mini – buses which are now being used for public transportation in Nigeria.

Not that theses buses are not good for such a venture. Honestly, I was particularly happy when I noticed that some corporate members of the society had embraced the use of this brand of vehicles to service destination routes are made purposely as family car, which have the capacity for long journeys. Some are built with DVD players and fridges.

They are luxurious buses made for the temperate countries without having in mind the tropical customers. They are fitted with air conditioners with little consideration for in-to-out ventilation.

Some have vents which could be slightly opened at the back, while some have open able vent in the middle while the others are blocked.
The thinking of the manufacturer must have been that whoever uses the car must be ready to put the air conditioning into use. Hence, the less consideration for adequate ventilation.

However, that has not been the case in Nigeria. Nigerian has found out that these brand of min–buses are not just luxurious but rugged and sturdy to contest the state of the roads in Nigeria.

Hence, it has been the darling of transport operators.

At the parks, the agberos always use the built- in accessories to lure passengers away from other type of vehicles.”

“Enjoy your money. Ride in comfort to Lagos –Ibadan, Benin–Ijebu Ode, Air condition, DVD, fridge. Enjoy your  journey.”

And no reasonable man of worth and purpose would see such a bus on the ground and elope with the ramshackle vehicles which abounds at Jabbi  Motor park, Abuja.

However, sometimes, that is where the beauty stops.

When you have paid and the Sienna has logged out from the make shift park  beside the Mountain of Fire Church, Utako,then you would realise that the Nigerian mentality would not allow you to ave your dream journey as canvassed and assured by the agbero.

The first thing that would shock you is the fact that these drivers would not put on the air-conditioner. And if you are unfortunate to sit at the back, where only a vent on the left is opened  slightly, you must prepare to take-off your clothing and endure the heat till you get to your destination.

This is where the FRSC has a big role to play. There should be inspection of these brands of vehicles before they are put on the roads. Those on the roads need to be specially  monitored and each found with a defective vent should be mandated to fix it or adjust accordingly.

Finally,  the FRSC and NURTW must find a way of improving  the ventilation  in this  brand under discussion if they must be used for public transportation.

Chief Osita Chidoka, up to you and we are sure you will deliver as you have been able  to do what some highly respected predecessors could not.