ABC Transport, an offshoot of Rapido Ventures Limited, commenced operations in road passenger transportation with a view to running modern road transport system in Nigeria with international standards.

The company emerged as a response to a long search for a corporate transport entity that has eyes for good service delivery. Before now, travelers and tourists used to regard coach operations as a mere movement of commuters from one point to another, smoothing the flow of goods and services. In practice, of course, not only has ABC Transport been an active agent in her own right within the travel and tourism industry, she has also come to represent a greater percentage of the market share in this sector of the economy.

The last years (2001 – 2005) in the life of ABC Transport has been eventful within the transport and tourism sector in Nigeria . These years have been characterized by new innovations and inventions, which have not been in existence, marking ABC Transport as the most outstanding in land transportation.

The advent of ABC Transport in Nigeria has brought in revolution to the transport and tourism sector within the Nigerian landscape and beyond. Upon its formal entry into the transport and tourism sector, not even the pioneers in coach operations could predict what would be the fate of the brand in years to come. Their frame of mind at inception could be understood especially when one considers the psychology of the average commuter. In most cases, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to convince an average Nigerian to believe, let alone patronize, a brand that is relatively new, especially a brand that does not join the bandwagon.

Today, the story is different, that many are now convinced about the readiness of ABC Transport to conquer every known barrier in the transport and tourism sector of the Nigerian economy. For this period under review, ABC Transport has been able to weather the storm of competition through a number of innovations, quality service delivery and backed by marketing and advertising strategies that have taken many of its competing brands by surprise. Some of these measures include on-time departure and arrival, vehicle tracking device, state-of- the-art terminals, friendly services and many more.

In Nigeria today, ABC Transport has come to be relied upon as yardstick for measuring the performances of other transport operatives. With a good fleet size and more than 15 terminals, ABC Transport has traversed the transportation and tourism sector of the Nigerian economy with the sole aim of changing its landscape and perception for the better. Travelers who had hitherto been afraid of road transportation have come to rely on ABC Transport as the only alternative to Air Travels due to the safety measures and mechanism put in place by the company.

ABC Transport has a full-fledged safety department manned by competent authorities in safety issues. Their responsibilities include monitoring the driving behaviours of the company's drivers, organizing safety campaigns, making sure all safety requirements of the vehicles are in place, implementing strategies to make sure moderate speeds are maintained by all the drivers and continuous and constant training of ABC drivers among others.

Since inception of the department, a lot of road monitoring and safety campaigns have been carried out. The safety men, whose office is on the highway, have always been there to make sure the buses and trucks comply with the rules and regulations guiding proper and safe use of the road. It is on record that within the year under review, ABC Transport has not involved in any fatal accident. This has encouraged the confidence of commuters to believe in ABC Transport as the safest means of land transportation.

ABC Transport has always been a keen practitioner of modern business trends, which placed the company on a strategic platform to meet customers' demand more effectively and efficiently than its competitors. It will be recalled that ABC Transport was the first road transport company in Nigeria to be hosted on the World Wide Web. Customers can easily get information on the company's services by simply logging on to www.abctransport.com . ABC Transport has continued to avail itself the use of modern technology in running its business. In the year under review, the company installed a computerized Tracking System, which monitors location of buses and speed from the Hub in Owerri. Importantly, the software enables the company to keep in touch with its customers. The company is committed in its strive to offer world class services, while keeping abreast of innovations that distinguish it as the leading operator in the industry.

In the area of tourism, ABC Transport has been in the forefront. Within this period under review, ABC Transport actualized its long awaited project tagged “Coach West Africa”. This service is for international tours. In addition to regular operation to and from Ghana , it paved way for the package called ABC Transport tours for holiday makers, tourists and family travelers. This enables businessmen, travelers and tourists to move across the West African Coast. The responses and patronages so far have been unique. This is another area of foreign exchange injection into the economy as people from other countries use the services to come into the country, thereby improving their commercial activities of the country.

During this period under review, ABC Transport has improved on its cargo delivery whereby non-traveling customers have the opportunity of sending mails, parcels and goods (as waybills) to consignees who pick them up at indicated ABC Terminals either through Parcel Services or Cargo Services. This has been a major step in the promotion of transportation and tourism in the country.

Another innovation introduced by ABC Transport in the transport and tourism sector is the Petty Cash Transfer. This affords customers and travelers the opportunity of transferring cashing to relations or friends from terminal to another within 24 hours. This service is operated locally and internationally. This is a sure boost to the transport and tourism sector of the economy.

To encourage land transportation in the country, ABC Transport introduces Frequent Travelers Programme. This scheme, which is customer friendly, has endeared it to its customers. The company is friendly to both child and adult travelers. For example, kids below 12 years of age, when traveling on ABC Transport in the company of an adult, are given 50% discount off their fare; after all, these kids should not pay like mum and dad. There is also the rebate ticket, which, in the event of breakdown, a customer gets the value of the uncompleted journey in his/her next trip with ABC Transport. These measures are put in place by the company to improve land transportation in the country.

ABC Transport has received several honors and awards within the period in view from the under listed corporate bodies, among others:

•  Travelers' Magazine - Best Interstate Land Transporter 2001

•  Institute of Transport Admin. of Nig. - The Best Road Passenger Transport Company Of The Year 2002

•  Travelers' Magazine - Best Traveler's Innovation 2003

•  Travelers' Magazine - Land Transporter Of The Year 2003

•  Federal Road Safety Corps Award 2004

•  Guild of Motoring Corresp. - Best Luxury Bus Operator Of The Year 2004

ABC Transport has improved the transport and tourism landscape of the country. In fact, it commands a greater percentage share of the industry. It has established an enviable presence in the scheme of things within the industry.

On November 21, 2005, the company converted to a public limited liability company and assumed the corporate status thereof.

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