By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Edward Obiefuna Ibuzo, has promised to restore law and order in the state transport sector.
Ibuzo made the promised while addressing representatives of transport and motor-park owners operating in Anambra State at a one-day brainstorming meeting organized by the State Ministry of Transport, held at the state secretariat conference hall Awka on Thursday.
He said the Ministry under his watch will ensure orderliness and total collaboration between the transporters, motor- parks owners and other transport agencies attached to the ministry, such as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Anambra State Transport Management Agency (ASTMA) and the state revenue generated unit, with the aimed to help actualize governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a digitalized, livable and prosperous state in Nigeria by 2070.
According to him, the maiden meeting organized by the Ministry is to brainstormed how to address and curbed the challenges of unfriendly-unionism in the sector, poor payment of taxes/levies to the State government by transport owners and multiple police checkpoints across the state, particularly, the Enugu-Awka-Onisha expressway among others.
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“I will use the mandate giving to me by our solution governor to restored law and order in Anambra transport sector.
“I am here to protect Anambra roads, street and not individuals as being demonstrated by the previous administrations in the state.
“My target is to work assiduously in partnership with all the transport owners, (mass transit owners, shuttle bus owners haulage service owners and tricycle operators) to meet up governor Soludo’s vision for a livable and prosperous Anambra State. And this can only be achieved if will wholeheartedly and lawfully pay our taxes and levies direct to the State government purse through the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) at when due.
“My aimed is to redevelop chaotic areas like Onitsha and Nnewi into modern, structured transport terminals for the good of Ndi-Anambra, therefore, the ministry under my watch is seeking to partner with those who are willing to be promoters of Soludo-led government.
“I implore you all to join the governor to make Anambra a smart and destination hub of Nigeria.
Ibuzo urged the transporters to visit the Ministry for revalidation and proper registration of their companies, motor-parks to prevent further harassment, intimidation and unnecessary extortion from the security agencies and illegal revenue collectors along the roads.
He also commended the Federal Government and the MTN Nigeria over the ongoing construction of Enugu-Awka-Onitsha expressway.
In an interview with Journalists shortly after the event, Onitsha based tricycle operator’s consultant, Comrade CJ Harrison Onyegbunam, appealed to the State government to help rehabilitate one of the major road, in Onitsha (3-3 road) to enable keke operators in the area operate smoothly, especially, during school hours.
The event was also attended by the executive chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Hon Stanley Chigbo Nkwoka, the Managing Director of ASTMA, Engr Emeka Okonkwo, the Ministry Permanent Secretary, Engr Michael Obiekwe, Comrade Osita Obi and officials from the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS).
