– Set to flush operators Tuesday
By Reginald Oloko
June 2 (Newshour.com.ng) – In a bid to sanitize the state of activities of illegal motor parks in the state, Imo State Traffic management Authority ISTMA has warned the operators to steer clear of the state or face the stiff penalities associated with the offence.
It would be recalled in a meeting of stakeholders in the state transport sector, the Honourable Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Rex Anunobi Sokom declared zero tolerance on illegal and unauthorized parks. According to the Commissioner the illegal parks on the following major roads in Owerri Metropolis: Government House intersection to Okigwe/Orji Road; Government House intersection to Bank Road extending to Assumpta Roundabout; Government House intersection to Wethedral Road extending to Emmanuel College intersection would be clamped down on.
Addressing the members of the Enforcement Teams who were on a week training and retraining, State Coordinator IMO State Traffic Management Authority ISTMA. Comrade Frank Obi Uche decried the illicit activities of operators and patronizers of illegal motor parks whose actions have continued to cause traffic difficulties in the state and vowed the agency would carry out the governor’s directive on sanitizing the state of the illicit activities.
Comrade Uche who disclosed that the members newly inaugurated Enforcement Teams would commence raid on illegal parks on Tuesday noted that Mobile Courts would be on ground to try defaulters.
Warning members of the public to always board vehicles at the government approved parks, the Public Transit Inspector, Ministry of Transport added that passengers caught at these illegal motor parks would be made to face the wrath of law pointing out that Keke buses applying within the Owerri municipality were meant to pick and drop passengers and not to park at any spot to load.
In his words,’ private cars which are indiscriminately parked on our roads will also be impounded and their owners tried at the mobile courts. Parking lots will be introduced”
The activities of illegal parks operators have brought traffic hardship to residents of the state. Most times, it takes over hours for road users to get to their destinations which ordinarily would take few minutes. Indiscriminate parking of Keke buses at spots that are supposed to be bustops has always posed risks to law abiding road users. For the safety of imolites the government of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma has directed the closure of illegal motor parks in the state.
