Nneji Hails Drivers as Nation Builders at ABC Transport Accident-Free Awards

Nneji Hails Drivers as Nation Builders at ABC Transport Accident-Free Awards

 

Group Managing Director of ABC Transport Plc, Mr. Jude Nneji, has described professional drivers as critical nation builders, insisting they are far from being “common men” as often portrayed.

Speaking at the company’s Awards Ceremony for Non-Accident Operations 2025 held at its Amuwo-Odofin terminal in Lagos on Friday, February 27, 2026, Nneji commended drivers who have maintained unblemished safety records, saying their discipline and professionalism safeguard lives, property and the economy.

“They are not common men,” he said. “When you drive a 55-seater luxury coach, you carry over 50 lives in your hands. You can decide their fate. That responsibility alone makes you extraordinary.”

He noted that beyond passenger transport, drivers in the haulage and logistics divisions play a vital role in sustaining commerce across Nigeria.

According to him, the movement of goods remains the backbone of trade, including the fast-growing e-commerce sector.

“Without moving goods from one part of the country to another, commerce will not thrive. The aspirations of families and the economy rest on your shoulders,” he stated.

Nneji particularly applauded drivers who have operated for years without accidents, incidents or even near-misses, despite the challenges of Nigerian roads, including potholes, reckless motorists and security risks.

He said the award ceremony was designed not only to celebrate excellence but also to motivate others to prioritise safety.

He stressed that accidents often lead to fatalities that cut short dreams and family responsibilities, citing for commendation the zero-tolerance safety culture of ABC Transport’s major corporate clients such as Lafarge Africa.

Reaffirming the company’s commitment to safety, Nneji highlighted several measures put in place by ABC Transport, including strict safety policies, a drug and alcohol policy, speed limiters installed in all buses and trucks, and a real-time vehicle tracking system.

He disclosed that the company’s vehicles are deliberately restricted from exceeding 100 kilometres per hour to enhance control during emergencies.

He also noted that alcohol breathalysers are used to test drivers, while continuous monitoring ensures compliance with safety standards.

According to him, the company invests heavily in driver training through its Driver Training Academy (DTA) in Owerri, which recently graduated 137 new trainees to boost the pool of professionally trained drivers in the country.

With over 2,000 employees and numerous dependents relying on the company, Nneji said safety remains both a moral and corporate obligation.

“If you go to work in the morning, your family expects you back. It is always better to say ‘welcome’ than to say ‘sorry,’” he remarked.

He called on government at all levels to improve infrastructure to support safer and more efficient transport operations, expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future.

“We have no other country but Nigeria. With good leadership, this nation will become one of the best in the world. I am confident it will happen in our lifetime,” he said.

A total of 61 drivers from ABC’s travel, cargo and haulage divisions were honoured at the ceremony, held a few days after the company marked its 33rd anniversary, having commenced operations on February 13, 1993.

Some of the drivers have driven ABC Transport vehicles for as long as 10 years without an accident, while others have five years to their credit.

The ceremony featured effusive commendations from representatives of five safety, intelligence and security agencies, which are the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service.

In her remarks, Kaleson-Rejoice Makanto, a Chief Route Commander at the FRSC Unit Command, Apapa, commended ABC Transport for installing speed limiters in all its vehicles, noting that the measure had enhanced its safety record.

She identified environmental, human and mechanical factors as major contributors to road crashes.

Also lauding the company, the Principal Occupational Safety Officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Engr. Sanuth Ogunlaja, disclosed that the commission recently scrutinised ABC Transport’s operations at its Jibowu terminal in Lagos and found that it met all set requirements.

The NDLEA representative at the event, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Ebia Efenfia, accompanied by Iloma Nwosu, extolled ABC Transport, its on-board crews and station staff for being reliable partners in the fight against drug trafficking.

“You have distinguished yourselves in terms of being free from drugs and trafficking,” Efenfia said.

Similarly, the officer in charge of the DSS office for the Amuwo-Odofin/Oriade area of Lagos, Alhaji A. A. Sunmonu, praised the company for its longstanding collaboration with the agency, citing the commendable conduct of its drivers and assistants on the Lagos-Accra route operated under the Coach West Africa service.

Describing ABC’s passenger service as a viable alternative to air travel, the Area Commander of the Nigeria Police, Area E Command, FESTAC, ACP Chike Otti, attributed the drivers’ zero-accident records to regular training, strict observance of speed limits and cautious driving.

“Please, remain careful, because a vehicle in the hands of an untrained driver is a weapon of mass destruction,” he said.

In the same vein, Adetokunbo Adeleye of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service identified continuous training, discipline and dedication as hallmarks of a good driver.

“Even when you retire and your salary is no longer being paid by the company, your experience will continue to pay your salary,” he noted.

The event was rounded off with a toast by the Group Head, Innovation Strategy & Marketing, Mr. Victor Nneji, who congratulated the honoured drivers and described them as a vital part of the 33-year-old organisation.

Also present at the ceremony was the Divisional Police Officer for FESTAC, Bakare Ibrahim.