Omole Senior Grammar School,
Omole Phase 1.
Omole, Ikeja.
29th June, 2010.

The Minister,
Ministry of Transportation,
Garki, Abuja.

Dear Sir,

Problems of Public Transport System
I appreciate the good work you have been doing since your appointment as the Minister of Transport in the country. It is commendable. However, there is still much to be done as the country's public transport system is yet to function properly. There is no doubt that the public transport system is still facing some challenges which do not make it to function properly as expected by many Nigerians.
A problem of the public transport system which has been a major concern for Nigerians for a long time is the deadly situation of our major highways and roads. Due to the bad situation of the roads many people are not encouraged to travel on these roads as few who make use of the roads complain bitterly about the alarming rate of accidents and armed robbery attacks on these roads. Sir. several lives are lost on our roads as a result of the poor situation of these major roads.
A very big problem of the public transport system is the over-concentration of people on roads as a means of transport, thereby neglecting other transport systems like rail and seaways. The railway system is non-existing as the railway lines are in bad condition across the country. In the past, railway system was a major form of transporting goods and people across the country. It was safe and cheap and people preferred to travel by train then. These days, the railway system has been neglected which makes the road system to be over-burdened and overused. These roads are being overused to the detriment of other systems of transportation railway system. earlier mentioned and water transportation. You do not even pay attention to the water transportation let alone developing it.
Another problem of public transport system is that the government appointed contractors who are awarded the contract to construct roads in the country either do the job perfunctorily or make away with the money without doing anything. Those who do something do not complete the roads.
Sir, in order to remedy the poor situation of our public transport system bad roads should be repaired without any delay while new ones should be constructed. As the roads are being rehabilitated the railway system should be rejuvenated with the rail lines repaired and new and modern trains purchased. The water transport system should also be revitalized with the purchase of speed boats, ferries and other means of transportation on water provided. If all these could be done, there will be less concentration of people on our roads and this will lead to decongestion on roads. I would be grateful if you could make use of these measures suggested Thank you
Yours faithfully.
Bassey Ekpenyong.