Tension is on the rise in Anambra State following the government’s decision to hand over the motor parks to the highest bidders to manage.

The drivers, under the aegis of Anambra Drivers’ Welfare Association, have faulted the decision, saying that it is not in the best interest of the drivers.

According to the national president of the association, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, the handover of the parks to the highest bidders would further increase their problems because the new managers would only be concerned with profit-making.

He stressed that those taking over the parks have no knowledge of park operations, arguing that it would also increase the crime rate in motor parks across the state as the contractors would only be interested in the money they would pay to the state government with little or no attention to the security of the drivers and their passengers.

Okafor also called on Governor Willie Obiano to look into the recent development in the parks across the state with a view to reviewing the recent contracts, adding that the drivers ought to have been given at least 60 percent of the parks to manage in view of their wealth of experience in the business.

“These people cannot do well in the parks because it is not their line. There is no way traditional rulers and other money bags who do not have any knowledge of the parks should be given the parks to manage while the drivers that contribute over 90 per cent of the revenue to the state coffers would be left behind,” Okafor said.

He called on the state government to intervene in the matter to ensure that security situation in the state is consolidated, adding that the only way to achieve that is to allow the drivers to manage the parks.