Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has ordered the rebranding of the state traffic agency ASTA with the activities of the agency already suspended in Onitsha, Nnewi, Ihiala, Nnewi and environs.

Disclosing this yesterday to News Express while trying to help decongest the gridlock at the popular Aroma Junction in Awka where work is on-going for a tunnel road that will connect to the major road in Awka, the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Chuma Mbonu, said:

“The governor is working towards rebranding the Anambra State Transport Agency to ensure that traffic in the state is well managed.”

According to the commissioner, the new ASTA will now bear the new name, Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ATMA).

He said that though the agency is still working within the state capital of Awka, some of the staff will be retained to continue with the new band wagon while the bad eggs who have been identified would be sacked after what he described as rescreening of the workers.

Mbonu noted that the re-organisation and re-branding of the agency will put it in a new shape for greater efficiency as ordered by Governor Obiano.

He maintained that the good members of staff of ASTA would be retained after the re-screening while the bad eggs would. He added that the data of all of the staff have already been collected.

Mbonu said: “We have already suspended their activities in areas like Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Ihiala while we have retained their services in Awka for close supervision.

“The new (ATMA) will be made of men and women of integrity, professionals. Like you know, the reputation of ASTA before now had not been wonderful, Obiano has a passion for road transport matters.”

The commissioner further said that the state government would rely on additional information from the public as well as journalists to act accordingly, adding that Anambra State is no longer for miscreants.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.