The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has urged private transport operators across the country to step up efforts to address persistent challenges in the sector, noting that the government is preparing major interventions that could significantly alter the operating landscape.

According to the minister, the planned retooling and expansion of the State Transport Company (STC) are intended to ease pressure on public transport.

However, he warned that the move could have serious implications for private operators that fail to position themselves strategically.

He cautioned that once government interventions are fully rolled out, private transport businesses that do not take advantage of existing gaps in the system may struggle to compete.

Mr. Nikpe made these remarks during a working visit to the Intercity State Transport Company (STC), where he assessed operations and engaged with management and staff.

The visit formed part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Transport to evaluate public transport services and outline plans to improve efficiency, availability, and affordability for commuters.

The minister acknowledged that the country is currently facing a shortage of public transport vehicles, contributing to long waiting times, overcrowding, and increased pressure on private operators. He assured the public that the situation would soon be addressed through deliberate government action, particularly the retooling of the STC with new buses and enhanced operational capacity.

He stressed that the government’s intervention is not intended to edge out private operators but to ensure that the transport needs of the population are adequately met.

“I am very hopeful that this thing of vehicle shortages and transport challenges will soon be a thing of the past. Just to caution the private sector to take advantage because very soon they will say government has taken over their activities because what we are going to do in terms of retooling, they will not find space but for them now, there is space.”