Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, on Wednesday accused touts of destroying his government’s image before the members of the public.
Uzodimma spoke in Owerri, through the Commissioner for Transport, Rex Anunobi, while meeting with stakeholders in the transport sector in the state.
To stop the bad image, the Governor has announced the shutting down of illegal motor parks in the Owerri capital city where touts stay and harm motorists.
Anunobi said: “The Governor has expressed concerns on the lapses inherent in the transport sector including illegal parks diminishing the urban renewal as well as the activities of non-state actors causing problems, causing people pains and damaging the image of the government. The Governor has said that it must stop finally.
“A toll-free numbers would be provided to the members of the public to report any misconduct of traffic officers. While a monitoring team would be set up to arrest touts impounding people’s vehicles, especially those forcefully collecting vehicle plate numbers.
“That the designated traffic enforcement shall impound/clamp on vehicles parked on unauthorised places and shall attract appropriate fines payable to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) before such vehicles are unclamped and released.”
“All government approved bus stops turned to unauthorised and illegal loading points or what are commonly known as ‘pits’ by non-state actors that are within 100 meters radius to the Intersections/Roundabouts above mentioned in Owerri metropolis are hereby closed.
“Taxis and Mini-buses are therefore directed to pick and drop off their passengers only at other government approved and designated bus stops within the Owerri Metropolis. Please note that defaulters shall be subjected to prosecution by the Traffic Mobile Court attached to the Imo State Traffic Management Authority,” he said.
