The Management of Benue Links (Nigeria) Limited has commenced a three-day training programme for its drivers on defensive driving, road safety, vehicle maintenance, security consciousness and emotional control to improve passenger safety and service delivery.
TNT understands that the training, organised in Makurdi, is designed to equip the company’s drivers with current driving techniques, technical knowledge and professional skills needed to minimise road accidents, protect passengers and strengthen the company’s operations, particularly ahead of the Yuletide travel rush.
Declaring the workshop open, the Head of Service of Benue State, Dr Eunice Ihu, described the initiative as timely, given the increase in human movement during November and December, and noted that Benue Links remains one of the major transport companies patronised by travellers across the country.
Dr Ihu commended the General Manager, Comrade Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa, and his management team for investing in staff development, operational efficiency and passenger safety.
She reminded the drivers that passengers entrust their lives to them whenever they board the company’s vehicles, urging them to demonstrate discipline, patience and sound judgment; respect passengers; obey traffic regulations; and make safety their foremost priority.
The Head of Service, who described the drivers as ambassadors of both the company and Benue State, also urged the management to sustain the training programme, stressing that continuous capacity development was necessary for improved staff welfare and organisational performance.
Earlier, Comrade Fanafa said Fr. Hyacinth Alia, upon assuming office as Governor, set out to reposition Benue Links as a pacesetter in Nigeria’s transport business, adding that the company had recorded remarkable achievements, particularly in remodelling its operations.
He explained that the training was part of efforts to reposition the mindset of drivers and improve their psychological preparedness for the demanding responsibilities of transporting passengers safely.
According to Comrade Fanafa, Benue Links has more than 1,800 drivers, but could not withdraw all of them from the roads simultaneously without disrupting its operations.
He said the three-day workshop would therefore be recorded, with the materials made available to drivers unable to attend in person, to ensure they also benefit from the knowledge shared by the resource persons.
Comrade Fanafa challenged the participating agencies to use their presentations to expose areas requiring improvement in the company’s operations and help reposition it to deliver better transport services to Nigerians.
The General Manager expressed appreciation to the partner agencies, particularly the FRSC, DSS, NAPTIP and NDLEA, as well as the Ministry of Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, for their continued support towards improving the company’s operations.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, Mrs Lilian Ode, who represented the Commissioner, Mr Joseph Jir, said the state government remained committed to improving efficiency and protecting passengers’ lives.
She noted that driving requires patience, discipline, and the ability to make sound decisions in short periods, adding that the knowledge acquired would help drivers minimise accidents and improve passenger safety.
Mrs Ode also urged management to strengthen vehicle maintenance and monitoring systems to complement the drivers’ training.
The workshop features presentations by resource persons from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Department of State Services (DSS), Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and a psychologist.
Topics covered include safe and defensive driving techniques, security consciousness on the road, vehicle control and technical management, the effects of drugs and alcohol on driving, drivers’ temperament control, and road signs, rules and regulations.
The Zonal Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), ACM Joseph J.S. Udoabba, described the exercise as a worthwhile investment, observing that training and retraining were essential to organisational growth and improved performance.
He cautioned drivers against drinking while driving and reminded them that they were not the only road users, urging them to remain conscious of the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.
ACM Udoabba further advised participants not to dismiss any of the lessons, stressing that driving practices and safety requirements continued to evolve and that nobody knew everything.
Similarly, the Makurdi Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Theresa Hembadoon Kuma, urged the drivers to apply the knowledge gained to improve professionalism, service delivery and passenger safety.
She also called on Benue Links to strengthen collaboration with the agency through information sharing as part of efforts to combat human trafficking.
The workshop is expected to strengthen the professional capacity of Benue Links drivers and promote a safety-conscious workforce committed to protecting passengers and delivering reliable transport services.
