Who Fines GIGM When They Default?

Tonte Davies
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read

Recently I embarked on a trip to Northern Nigeria. My destination was Kaduna State. Even though it was work-related, I was to spend about 4 days in the Centre for Learning.

Being my first time to that part of the north — the farthest I have been include the FCT and Minna (less than a day), I opted for a road trip so I could catch a glimpse of development along that axis. It was public transport.

Rather than travel with an unregistered and probably unrecognized transport outfit from Lagos State, I chose GOD is GOOD Motors. It was equally my first time using the service of the transport company. Sincerely, while I had no clue what to expect during the journey and my stay in Kaduna, I was excited.

Payment e-receipt courtesy Paystack

With the rise of digital in the country, I booked and paid for my ticket online. With my booking confirmed via both an email and a text message, I was also issued a reference and trip code. The confirmation message I received also read in part: “Rescheduling and lateness attracts a fee of ₦1,000.”

I have no doubt in my mind many people who have used the services of GIGM can relate with this process.

The first bus which I booked for, was scheduled to depart at 6.00 am WAT. I got to GIGM’s terminal at 5.20 am. In no way was I ready to part with an extra dime after paying for my ticket. For what na?! At the terminal, I was issued a physical ticket after declaring my reference code. I felt in control. At 7.00 am, I was still at the terminal. I was no longer in control at this point.

I had paced back and forth to the counter demanding to know the cause of delay. The attendant (a lady) replied saying she was still “trying to fill other seats”. At 7 am? Questions and more questions kept popping in my mind. Didn’t this transport company know perhaps seats to Kaduna do not get filled before 6 am? At what time was the FIRST bus eventually going to depart for Kaduna? What time will I arrive at Kaduna?

Then, there was this big question: ‘Who fines GIGM — and their likes — when they default?’ After all, commuters are fined for rescheduling and/or lateness.

I confess, while the drive to Kaduna was long it however, was smooth.

My original plan was to put this piece together after arriving at Kaduna. But no. I decided to try the service of GIGM, again, from Kaduna to Lagos. I am back at Lagos and I can honestly tell you dear reader, the service was worse at the Kaduna terminal than Lagos. They did not only delay commuting passengers. The manager and staff at Kaduna defrauded commuters. I will explain, briefly.

Again, the FIRST was scheduled to depart early only this time, it was for 7.00 am. To avoid defaulting charges for lateness on my part, I got to the terminal by 6.30 am. I met quite a crowd there.

Notably, there was this group of men and women who were returning to Lagos State after attending a conference in Kaduna. From what I gathered, they were staff of a major bank whose name I will not mention as I am not paid advert fee.

This group only paid for their trip the morning I was to travel. Unlike the bank staff, other persons I met and talked with, duly informed me they had booked for their ticket a day or two before — these persons were primed to travel with the first bus. To my amazement, the manager and his staff seem to connive to receive extra charges from the ‘bank group’ for them to leave with the first bus.

A few commuters — I inclusive — noticed this and swiftly protested this form of discrimination. Unfortunately, our protest appeared to fall on deaf ears. At this time, I and other commuters designated to leave for Lagos, were way behind our departure time. The ‘bank group’ left with the so-called first bus. Our protest gathered more verve.

A woman along with a young man who appeared to be her son likely in his late 20s, equally registered their grievance to the manager and demanded a refund of their money. N.B: GIGM have a no-refund policy which I consider unfair in extremely unique circumstances as the ones I experienced and witnessed.

Some commuters threatened to take the matter up with the company’s management. I decided to put this piece together and make the issues raised a topic for public discourse. My objective for doing this is to get an answer to a simple question which I asked earlier: “Who fines GOD is GOOD Motors when they default?”

Whoever you are reading this, your thoughts and contributions to this article are appreciated. One thing must be clear though: we cannot continue to stay silent in the face of injustice.

“In an unjust society, silence is a crime” — I’m searching to know who said this

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Tonte Davies

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Actionable data insights for commercial growth of sports across Africa is my current drive

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