Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
ABC TRANSPORT EXPANDS OPERATIONS, INCREASES FLEET SIZE
Management of ABC Transport has commenced the first phase of its fleet expansion programme. The expansion sees the injection of 24 new coaches, the first batch numbering nine have already been taken delivery of, while the remaining batch (15 in number) is due for delivery in Nigeria not later than August 2013.
Spurred by the remarkable improvement in road condition nationwide, which has given rise to shorter travel time and culminated in the return of many passengers to coach travels, ABC Transport’s expansion programme has seen a great number of its loyal customers enjoying timely departures and early arrivals on a daily basis, on the whole. The current brand of ABC coaches is equipped with surveillance monitoring camera for security purposes on-board and with speed limiters for speed controls. To make booking easier and more accessible to customers, ABC on-line ticketing has been enhanced to allow passengers book on-hold and pay later at their bank of choice.
ABC Shuttle Service, a short distance intercity operation, has equally received a boost from the ongoing fleet expansion. Thirty three (33) new Toyota Hiace minibuses will be deployed before the end of the year, to augment the existing fleet plying the south east and south-south routes. Consequently, Port-Harcourt to Uyo now runs on an hourly schedule. And what’s more, ABC Transport has opened an outlet on 25, Port Harcourt Road, Opp. Owerri Girls’ Secondary School Gate, Control Post, Owerri, Imo State.
In addition, ABC Sprinter, a long haul intercity service for light travellers, has been injected with new fleet, thus offering customers the opportunity to travel Lagos-Uyo to and fro every 6.30 A.M. As part of its safety tradition, Management of ABC Transport will fete and honour 100 drivers and attendants who did not record any accident within the operational year 2012 on April 30, 2013 at Mayfair Suites & Conference Centre, Owerri by 10A.M.
ABC TRANSPORT OFFERS SUMMER TOUR SPECIAL TO GHANA
ABC Transport Plc has commenced the 2012 Summer Tours Special for tourists and holiday seekers. The Tour package is a 4-day special tour in and outside Accra, Ghana. It commences on August 16, with a departure from Lagos to Accra. The tours are affordable and within budget price. It is certainly the best choice when it comes to budget provision for holiday seekers in the West Coast of Africa, as it covers luxury hotel accommodation, breakfast and lunch, and tours within major attractions in Ghana.
Tourists are expected to possess a valid international or ECOWAS passport and vaccination card. All border formalities will be handled by the experienced ABC Transport cabin crew while the tourists relax inside the air-conditioned coach complete with on-board facilities and convenience. In this regard, tourists will depart Lagos from on August 16th. Those who would want to leave on an early date but prefer the tour package still have an opportunity. The take-off point is by 7.00am from the ABC Amuwo Terminal, Plot 79 Oba Kayode Akinyemi Way, off Festac Bypass, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, through Benin Republic and Lome, Togo to arrive at Accra, Ghana same day. On their arrival at Accra, they will be checked into a three star hotel for a well deserved rest.
In Ghana, the tourists will be exposed to places of interest and history, places which infuse respect, reflection, awe, delight and thrill all at once. The tourists are expected to enjoy the breathtaking spectacles of Ghana’s National Museum, National Park, Independence/Black Star Square, and the El-mina Castle in Cape Coast built by the Portuguese in 1462, which happens to be the oldest castle in Africa. Other memorable attractions include the Kakum National Park, which comprises undisturbed virgin rainforest, and a walk on the longest and highest canopy walkway in West Africa. On the way back tourists will stop for lunch at a resort partly built on stilts on a river and also visit a crocodile farm.
In order to satisfy the increasing demands of customers for a medium size bus, ABC Smart Coach, has begun operations. It is a fully air-conditioned 27-seater medium coach that plies Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Onitsha routes. Meanwhile, in accordance with Cashless Lagos policy, customers of ABC Transport Plc have been advised to make use of the POS terminals placed in some ABC Lagos terminals. This can be done either through the use of Visa card, Master card or any other authorized debit cards.
ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, and United Cement Company. ABC Transport Plc also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service.
ABC TRANSPORT PLC INTRODUCES SMART COACH IN NIGERIA
ABC Transport Plc has introduced a new coach operation known as Smart Coach, in order to meet the increasing demands for a medium size bus by its customers. The Smart Coach is a Navigo-model 27-seater luxury coach designed to offer passengers an alternative between a coach and a mini bus.
Fatality rate of passengers in mini buses operating long hauls is usually very high, so as a matter of safety policy, the management of ABC Transport Plc has never favoured the use of mini buses for long distance travels. The ABC Smart Coach combines the advantages of coach and mini bus; coach features and the sleekness of a small bus, which imbues it with easy maneuverability on difficult roads. Thus, ABC Smart Coach will meet the needs of customers who do not want to travel in large coaches because of the road condition in some parts of the country, which turns a simple trip to a tiring experience, and also the needs of customers who want to enjoy coach comforts but are rather too skeptical about travelling in a small bus because of its safety implications.
According to Mr. Jude Nneji, Deputy Managing Director, ABC Transport Plc, the Smart Coach will add value to “customers of ABC Transport Plc, particularly those who have kept faith with the company over the years. Its distinctive styling, aesthetic design and enhanced ergonomics will provide the same quality of ride and passenger comfort that is the hallmark of coach.” The Smart Coach will be operating in Nigeria for the first time and will be deployed on the Lagos-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Port Harcourt routes for now. Ten (10) units of the Smart Coach have been procured by ABC Transport Plc.
ABC Transport Plc had earlier sent four key maintenance staff for automotive training in Turkey, in readiness for the Smart Coach operation in Nigeria. The training was organised by Otokar Otomotive, a major automotive manufacturer in Europe, and was aimed at equipping ABC Transport engineers with firsthand knowledge and special competence in the maintenance and repairs of the Smart Coach.
The ABC Smart Coach is medium size, with roomy interior and lush upholstery. It is very ideal for intercity travels and provides an extremely high level of comfort for passengers. In fact, it has been meticulously designed to give every passenger that all-important feel-good factor. It has on-board entertainment facilities, genuine leather passenger seats with adjustable foot rests, fold-down armrests, and two-point seat belts. The air-conditioning system and air channels from the heat exchanges guarantee a comfortable interior climate. It also has a spacious luggage compartment which can be loaded and unloaded easily, and overhead luggage racks.
Meanwhile, ABC Transport Plc has established an Urban Mass Transit Unit headed by Kazim Ajibola Kasali, a tested public transportation professional. This is aimed at offering subsidized fare for public commuters. ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, PZ and United Cement Company. ABC Transport Plc also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service.
ABC TRANSPORT PLC APPOINTS MR. JUDE NNEJI AS DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mr. Jude Nneji, Executive Director, ABC Transport Plc, has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director by the company’s Board of Directors. This takes effect from January 1, 2012. Mr. Jude Nneji started his career with Rapido Ventures Limited after his graduation in Pharmacy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1990. He joined ABC Transport Plc in 1993, at inception, as an Administrative Manager and later as Executive Director. He has served the company from then till date. He has participated in various international conferences relating to passenger operations, logistics and tourism and is a 2002 graduate of the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) run by the Lagos Business School (Pan African University).
Mr. Jude Nneji currently oversees the company's administration and operations in the Western Zone. He also oversees the company’s operations on the West Coast of Africa. In his new role, however, he will be responsible for formulating and communicating a strategic plan that ensures effective cost and financial control activities; responsible for monitoring and responding to evolving market needs, especially in the cargo and haulage sectors, and providing direction for profitability. In addition, he will have responsibility for establishing metrics for success and assessing current business opportunities.
For over a decade Mr. Jude Nneji has provided highly distinguished leadership to ABC Transport’s administrative, operational and support services functions, making him an outstanding choice for this new position. His appointment is expected to provide a more strategic streamlined top level management in ABC Transport and reduce the number of direct reports to the Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer.
ABC Transport Plc is Nigeria’s leading coach operator and the only road transport operator quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition, ABC Transport Plc provides short distance intercity passenger services, haulage, tours, charters, petty cash services, third party warehousing as well as runs a budget hotel, City Transit Inn, in Utako, Abuja.
ABC TRANSPORT PLC TRAINS NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE DRIVERS
Six military drivers of the National Defence College Abuja recently graduated from the Driver’s Training Academy (DTA), operated by ABC Transport Plc. The graduation ceremony, which took place at the corporate headquarters of ABC Transport Plc on April 27, 2012, concluded the two months’ training programme. The graduating personnel included SSGT Adullahi Alhassan, FS Nayaya Abdullahi, SSGT Ibrahim Iskilu, CPL Danjuma Abu, CPL Mani Joel and L/CPL Adamu Adamu.
Addressing the graduates during the occasion, Mr. Frank Nneji, OON, MD/CEO, ABC Transport Plc, expressed joy that the National Defence College found the company worthy of being capable of training professional drivers and congratulated the graduates for having passed through the Driver’s Training Academy. He extolled the valuable roles drivers play in road transportation and in the promotion of road safety. However, he reminded them that they are always held liable in respect of over 95% of road traffic mishap and advised them to make maximum use of the knowledge they had acquired from the training, in order to avoid accidents and remain good ambassadors of ABC Transport Plc.
Staff Sergeant Abdullahi Alhassan, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the company for its hospitality, especially the staff of the Driver Training Academy. He was pleased with the quality of the training, and appreciated ABC Transport Plc for the free return tickets given to them. The Driver’s Training Academy (DTA), run by ABC Transport Plc, is accredited by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), not only to train and re-train drivers but also to equip them with the necessary driving skills and safety aptitude. It started training military drivers since 2009 with the first batch coming from the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja.
In line with the Cashless Lagos, customers of ABC Transport Plc have been advised to take advantage of either the E-ticketing service, to make seat reservation and payment, or through the POS terminals placed in some ABC Lagos terminals: this can be done either through the use of Visa card, Master card or any other authorized debit cards.
ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, has diversified business interest in haulage and third party warehousing, hospitality, tours and petty cash service. In addition, ABC Transport Plc operates an Urban Mass Transit Scheme, aimed at offering subsidized fare for public commuters in Lagos.
ABC TRANSPORT GROWS TURNOVER BY 26.82%, INVESTS MORE IN HAULAGE BUSINESS
ABC Transport Plc has released its audited results for the year ended 31st December 2011, recording a growth of 26.82% in turnover over the 2010 result. Turnover increased from N4.61b in 2010 to N5.85b in 2011 representing an increase of 26.89% while operating profit indicating increased operational efficiency grew from N392.94m in 2010 to N459.71m in 2011 representing an increase of 16.99%.
Profit before tax, however, decreased by 57.63% from N172.25m in 2010 to N72.97m in 2011 as a result of increase in financing costs, which rose from N220.68m in 2010 to N386.in 2011 representing an increase of 75.24%. This sharp increase was occasioned by new financing obtained for investment in haulage services at Lafarge WAPCO cement plant at Ewekoro, Ogun state, which only began to stabilize towards the end of 2011. The company has made more incursion into the haulage business to diversify its portfolio as a result of the prevailing challenges in the passenger transport business resulting from heightened insecurity and the poor nature of many federal highways. The investment is further made imperative by the need to position the company as a total logistics company.
A loss after tax of N68.18m was recorded against a profit after tax of N57.51m recorded in 2010. This was as a result of the huge tax burden on the additional investment in haulage resulting from the timing differences between depreciation, which is disallowed for tax purposes and capital allowances granted by the Inland Revenue. The huge unutilized tax allowances are expected to result in decreases in future tax liabilities and profitability as the haulage business achieves greater efficiency and adequate profits are available to absorb the unutilized allowances.
It should be recalled that ABC Transport Plc used to be known as Associated Bus Company Plc, but last year the Board of Directors effected a change of name due to its diversified business interest in haulage and third party warehousing. ABC Transport Plc now runs an Urban Mass Transit Scheme, aimed at offering subsidized fare for public commuters in Lagos. ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, and United Cement Company. ABC Transport Plc also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service.
ABC TRANSPORT HOLDS ITS 13TH EDITION OF ACCIDENT-FREE AWARD, SET TO REWARD DRIVING CREW
The Management of ABC Transport Plc has set April 25th 2012 aside to celebrate this year’s Accident-free Award Ceremony. The event is held annually to recognize and reward ABC Transport drivers and attendants who did not record any accident during an operational year and also to reinforce the value of safety consciousness in the organization.
Scheduled to hold at the prestigious Mayfair Suites & Conference Centre, Owerri, the ABC Transport’s Accident-free Award will attract dignitaries from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Road Transport Operators, and other associated stakeholders. The selected ABC Transport drivers and attendants, who will be honoured at the elaborate event, are drawn from coach, minibus, midibus, truck and trailer sections of the passenger, cargo, and haulage operations. They are over 100 in number. Certificates and cash prizes will be given to the driving crew that maintained an accident-free record for one year, while those who held such a record in a row for five years will also receive cash prizes and certificates plus special plaques.
In line with its safety position, ABC Transport Plc has installed Autokontrol speed limiters in most of its vehicle fleet, having long installed GPS tracking devices years earlier. Meanwhile, customers of ABC Transport Plc have been advised to take advantage of the E-ticketing service, to make booking and seat reservation. Customers are also expected to make use of the POS terminals placed in some ABC Lagos terminals; a policy in accordance with Cashless Lagos. This can be done either through the use of Visa card, Master card or any other authorized debit cards.
ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, and United Cement Company. ABC Transport Plc also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service.
ABC TRANSPORT WINS ITF AWARD, ACQUIRES MORE G7 COACHES
The Management of Associated Bus Company Plc, operators of ABC Transport, was recently conferred with an award by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Aba Area Office, which comprises part of South-East and South-South states. The ceremony took place on June 13, 2011 at the corporate headquarters of ABC Transport in Owerri. The award was in recognition and appreciation of ABC Transport as the Best Contributing Employer in Human Research Development in 2010. This is the second time ABC Transport has clinched the award in a row.
The Area Manager of the Industrial Training Fund, Engineer Afadi, who was accompanied by some management staff, commended ABC Transport for not only living up to its mission statement but also for its robust contribution to the training and development of its workforce, which is in line with the objectives of ITF. As Engineer Afadi emphasized, the goal of ITF “is to generate a pool of skilled manpower for the Nigerian economy.” Industrial Training Fund believes that development of skills determines productivity level, which is why it has always insisted on quality training in every organisation so that staff can become equipped with new skills, competencies and techniques.
While receiving the award on behalf of Associated Bus Company Plc, the MD/CEO, Mr Frank Nneji, OON, enthused that ABC Transport was indeed touched and inspired by the outstanding award. He appreciated the management of ITF for recognizing the company’s myriad efforts and stated that ABC Transport has constantly tried to keep abreast of training and development programmes. Just recently, key staff in the Financial Service/Audit departments of the company were sent on training on the workings of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), so that ABC Transport could comply with the international requirements.
Mr Nneji assured the ITF team that ABC Transport “will continue to equip people with the right training and right skills as well as step up its training programmes. More importantly, ABC Transport will also continue to work closely with the Industrial Training Fund to promote professionalism and excellence so as to enable ABC Transport to keep offering quality services to the public.”
To effectively manage its expanding haulage business and contract with Lafarge-WAPCO Nigeria, ABC Transport has recruited Mr Olusakin Gboyega as Head of Haulage Division. A graduate of the prestigious Lagos Business School and with over 15 years in transportation and logistics management, especially haulage management, Mr Gboyega has served as consultant to many logistics companies and represented Nigeria in various logistics management international associations.
Meanwhile, ABC Transport has acquired three additional brand new units of the ultramodern Generation 7 (G7) coaches. In addition to haulage and passenger services, ABC Transport provides tours, charters, petty cash services, third party warehousing as well as runs a budget hotel, City Transit Inn, in Utako, Abuja. ABC Transport remains the only road transport operator quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
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