Frustrated Travelers Lament Shocking Experience on Accra-Abuja Route.
CHISCO Transport, one of Nigeria’s long-standing transportation companies, has come under heavy criticism following a string of frustrating experiences reported by passengers traveling between Ghana and Nigeria.
Travelers have described their ordeal as nothing short of a nightmare, citing negligence, extortion, poor customer service and inhumane treatment.
A Journey Filled with Frustration and Uncertainty
Passengers who purchased direct tickets from Accra, Ghana, to Abuja, Nigeria, were subjected to a shocking ordeal that left them stranded in Lagos overnight.
Despite paying for a straight trip, travelers were dropped at CHISCO’s terminal in Mazamaza, Lagos, where they were forced to sleep in an open hall without mosquito nets or adequate ventilation.
“The heat was unbearable and mosquitoes made it worse. We paid for a direct trip but we were dumped in Lagos without explanation,” one passenger lamented.
The following day brought another wave of frustration. Passengers waited for long hours with no communication from the transport company. When they finally approached the management to inquire about their journey, they were met with hostility.
After several heated exchanges, the passengers were moved to another terminal before finally being boarded to Abuja – a situation that should never occur in a professional transport service.
A Repeat of the Nightmare: Abuja to Accra Journey
Shockingly, the ordeal did not end there. Two Ghanaian travelers who had been victims of the initial chaos experienced a similar nightmare on their return trip from Abuja to Accra.
After completing their business in Abuja, the duo purchased tickets for 230,000 Naira in the morning and were instructed to return to the terminal by 2:30 PM for a 3:00 PM departure. However, they were made to wait for three more hours before the bus finally departed at 6:00 PM.
The long and exhausting 16-hour journey brought them back to CHISCO’s Lagos terminal, where they were made to alight and sit in a waiting area. Again, passengers were left clueless for over two hours. Sensing déjà vu, the Ghanaian travelers approached the counter to inquire about their connecting bus to Accra, only to be met with a shocking response – the bus had already left.
“How could they sell us tickets for a journey they never intended to complete? We were stranded again, just like before!” one of the affected passengers exclaimed.
No Help, No Accountability
Attempts to get assistance from CHISCO’s Lagos office were fruitless, as staff members provided no solution. The travelers were advised to call CHISCO’s Abuja branch, where they had purchased the tickets.
To their dismay, the Abuja branch manager, Solomon Victor, rudely dropped the call on them and refused to answer subsequent calls.
Even CHISCO’s customer care personnel were unable to help, leaving passengers with no choice but to endure yet another night of uncertainty and discomfort.
Overcharging and Extortion
Adding to the frustration was the discovery that passengers had been overcharged. According to the breakdown of CHISCO’s fare structure, the cost of a ticket from Abuja to Lagos is 30,000 Naira, while Lagos to Accra is 90,000 Naira.
This means the total amount for an Abuja-Accra trip should have been 120,000 Naira. However, passengers were charged 130,000 Naira each, indicating an unlawful extra charge of 10,000 Naira per person.
“Not only did they inconvenience us, but they also exploited us financially. We were forced to pay more than necessary for a service that was far from satisfactory,” one of the travelers fumed.
Call for Accountability
The experiences shared by these travelers paint a grim picture of CHISCO Transport’s operations, raising serious concerns about their commitment to customer satisfaction and ethical business practices.
Passengers are calling on transport authorities in Nigeria and Ghana to investigate CHISCO’s operations and ensure that such maltreatment of travelers is addressed. There are also demands for a refund of the overcharged fares and improved customer service standards.
The transportation industry plays a crucial role in connecting countries and fostering regional trade. However, when companies like CHISCO fail to uphold basic service standards, passengers suffer immensely. It is high time regulatory bodies stepped in to ensure that transport companies operate with integrity, accountability and respect for their customers.
For now, CHISCO Transport remains in the spotlight, not for excellence but for the wrong reasons.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
