By CHARLES IWUOHA

Transport stakeholders in Enugu State, have agreed to strengthen the already existing task-force on roads decongestion along markets to ensure constant free flow of traffic within Enugu metropolis.

They agreed that the task-force should be supported by all to decongest roads along Holy Ghost, Chris Chemist, Gariki market and Abakpa market axis; while building synergy with the police, urban local government councils and market leaders.

This is contained in a communiqué issued by the stakeholders on Wednesday after a Transport Stakeholders’ Forum; which was held in Enugu on July 26, 2022.

The stakeholders appreciated immensely the work of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in road maintenance within Enugu metropolis and enjoined him to “keep it up”.

The communiqué also recommended more training and re-training of traffic officers within the state.

It said: “There is a need for more sensitisation and publicity by the Ministry of Transport, leadership of the transport unions and other stakeholders through the media and road shows.

“That all road users both the commercial and private motorists in Enugu State should always obey traffic rules and regulations.

“Transport stakeholders also enjoined the highly placed individuals and personalities in the state to desist from interfering when motorists commit traffic offences and equally obey traffic rules/regulation as they are not above the law.

“Stakeholders appreciated the untiring efforts of the staff of Enugu State Ministry of Transport in controlling and maintaining traffic issues in the state and were encouraged to work harder.”

They also requested the state government to take necessary action to fix the traffic lights that are not functioning in order to improve on the traffic situation in the state.

The stakeholders called for the strengthening of the existing traffic mobile court to make it more functional to check activities of dissidents to traffic rules and regulations in Enugu State.

On security, they warned all those using services of commercial vehicles and tricycles to desist from entering any commercial vehicle without route and registration numbers.

“The operational time of 6a.m. – 9p.m. daily for tricycles (Keke) and mini-bus operators in Enugu metropolis should be maintained.

“All private school buses and ambulances should all operate with commercial number plates as stipulated by the law and register their operation with the Enugu State Ministry of Transport.

“Leaderships of transport unions in the state were requested to always hold meetings with the drivers/operators of all commercial vehicles in Enugu State to bridge communication gaps.

“Finally, stakeholders appreciated the ministry for the event and prayed them to always organise similar events in the future to educate and inform road users on the policies and activities of the transport sector.”

The three-page communiqué was signed by executives of all transport unions in the state; market unions’ representatives, a media representative and representatives of security agencies.

Other signatories to the communiqué included: representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), representatives of the chairmen of the three council areas within Enugu metropolis and representative of the Enugu State Ministry of Transport.

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