By Ada Nkong
The Female Drivers Association of Nigeria has condemned assault and harassment of female drivers.
In a statement signed by Ambassador Eunice Oghale,Founder/President ,it says
the Female Drivers Association of Nigeria (FEDAN) are outraged and deeply disturbed by the recent r of assault and harassment perpetrated against one of our members near the Oriental Hotel, along the Lekki-terminus.
“As an Organisation, we are committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of our female members who have chosing careers in the transportation industry. Unfortunately, some men have taken it upon themselves to subject these women to verbal and physical abuse, simply because they dare to operate behind the wheel. This is unacceptable and we will not stand idly by while our members are subjected to such ignominy”.
“The incident that occurred in Lagos is a clear example of the injustice faced by our members. A female driver was brutally beaten and harassed by a group of men who seem to think that they have the right to exercise their “muscle” over women on the wheel. This is a vicious cycle that must be broken, and we are calling on the relevant authorities and agencies to take immediate action to address this issue”.
They urged the public, particularly the licensed operators in parks and on the road, to join in condemning this evil act saying they want their women to be able to perform their duties without fear of harassment and assault.
“We want them to be able to enjoy their careers in the transportation industry without being subjected to such indignities”.
They also called on the authorities to take concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of their female members as they need assistance to put an end to this culture of violence and impunity.
They called on the relevant authorities and agencies to intervene and ensure justice is served and seen to be served.
They also urged all transport licensed operators, both in parks and on the road, to join hands in stopping this evil act.
They made Demands which include
- Immediate investigation into incidents of assault and harassment of female commercial Drivers in Nigeria.
- Justice and accountability for perpetrators
- A safe and supportive environment for women drivers
- Collaboration with transport operators to prevent future incidents
FEDAN, pledged to continue to stand by members and fight for their rights saying they will not be silenced by the tyranny of those who think they are above the law. They promised to continue to raise their voices until justice is served and female drivers are able to operate in a safe and respectful environment.
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