Anambra State House of Assembly has directed the Commissioner for Transport and the Anambra State Traffic Management Authority (ATMA) to evacuate all abandoned heavy duty vehicles at Tarzan area Ogbunike.There are also trucks and scraps lying around at the service lane and even jotting out into motor way around the Ogbunike Tollgate/Tarzan Junction.
The lawmakers also advised that a Truck Park be set up to accommodate operational articulated trucks so as to have a clean environment.The House made the call following a motion sponsored by member representing Njikoka 1 constituency, Mr Timothy Ifedioramma during plenary on July 28. The Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, who presided during plenary read out the resolution while the lawmakers unanimously adopted it through voice votes.
The Speaker said it was the primary responsibility of government to protect life and property of citizens.We are part of the Government and the motion amplifies the need to do something; the Executive with this motion will get the trucks off the road for free movement of vehicles in the state,’’ he said.Mr Ifedioramma said; “Section 15 sub section 3 of the 1999 Constitution as amended says: for the purpose of promoting our National integration, it shall be the duty of the state to provide adequate facility for and encourage free mobility of goods and services throughout the Federation.
The spate at which scraps and non operational heavy duty trucks are abandoned at the service lane on Ogbunike Tollgate-Tarzan Junction of the Onitsha – Enugu Expressway is worrisome.The essence of service lane in a multi lane carriage way is to make room for temporary servicing of vehicles; also as a pathway for pedestrians and it acts as frontage road leading into streets.
These abandoned heavy duty vehicles, scraps and operational articulated trucks impede the free flow of traffic thereby occasioning severe traffic congestion leading to loss of huge productive man hours.The prolonged stay of these abandoned heavy duty vehicles, scraps and operational articulated trucks on our roads leads deterioration and dilapidation.
These abandoned heavy duty vehicles and scraps serves as hideouts for social deviants, miscreants and criminals from which they stalk their victims and perpetuate heinous crimes.Setting up a park to accommodate the operational trucks will restore sanity and orderliness on the Ogbunike Toll gate/new Tarzan axis of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.’’
Committee Chairman on Transport, Mr Patrick Udoba supported the motion saying it was important that they were evacuated because they had become hideout for hoodlums.Mr Obinna Emenaka representing Anambra East stressed the need for relevant agencies to check all streets and corners of the state where trucks and scraps were heaped and get them evacuated.
We are talking about a neat and decent environment, the commissioner should create a mechanic village, where all the vehicles will be parked, so we can have a neat and decent environment,’’ Mr Emeneka said.Mr Douglas Egbuna representing Onitsha North said the people there were all legal occupants and pay revenue to the State Government.
We should hold the revenue collectors of the state accountable for this, why should we be collecting revenue in an area considered `a death trap.The road in question is a Federal Road, the face of the state and the state shouldn’t encourage such abnormalities.’’Mr Ezenwune confirmed that the State Government had already established a park big enough to contain all trucks on that area but the drivers had refused to make use of the facility.All I know is that someone or a group of persons are sabotaging the efforts of the government, we should find out who gave them warrant to the place as IGR window.
They also collect money from the mechanics there because mechanics have turned that place as their workshops,’’ Mr Ezenwune said.Mr Charles Obimma (Oyi) condemned the act and called for immediate actions to be taken for the betterment of his constituents and Ndi Anambra at large
