Governor Francis Nwifuru has banned every kind of transportation task force groups in Ebonyi following alleged extortions from the transporters by unscrupulous elements in the state.
The governor announced this yesterday in Abakaliki, through his Senior Special Assistant on Transport, Chief Fredrick Nwogbaga while inspecting the various motor parks in the state.
According to Nwogbaga, accompanied by the Head of Department, Ebonyi State Ministry of Transport, Engr Nwankwo Anene and the staff, the ban of the task force was with immediate effect to avoid activities of unscrupulous elements in the transport sector of the state.
The Governor's aide assured of constituting another set of task force that would help to oversee the transportation activities in the state.
Nwogbaga assured of making Ebonyi Transport Services (EBOTRANS) one of the leading transport companies in Nigeria.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport was taken around the premises where he inspected over forty unserviceable vehicles and promised that he would intimate his principal about the condition of the vehicles so that the government can look into them and know the next line of action.
While appealing to the company to give Governor Nwifuru more time, he expressed optimism that the present government would give the transport corporation a facelift in the state.
Nwogbaga, however, cautioned transporters across the State to avoid reckless driving and consider the safety of their lives, and those of their passengers, as well as other road users.
He encouraged street traders within the State capital to relocate to the Margret Umahi International Market Abakaliki to pave the way for the free flow of vehicular and human movement, adding that the development would reduce unwarranted accidents.
He further urged illegal park operators across the state capital to relocate to the State government-approved central motor park, opposite Margret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki, warning that anybody caught loading at the unauthorized motor parks would be arrested and his vehicle be confiscated by the authority in charge.
In their goodwill messages, the acting general Manager, of EBOTRANS, Dr Simon Idenyi, the operation Manager of EBOTRANS, Chief Achike Odigbo and the company Depot Manager, Mrs Beatrice Nweke as well as the Chief Driver of EBOTRANS, Mr Christian Okpaga appealed to the atate government to help revive the sector by bringing more functional vehicles for optimal services delivery.
They also promised to work with the state governor's Senior Special Assistant on Transport to achieve a good result for the present government.
Some travellers Including Mr Simon Onwe, and Mrs Gloria Okorie among others appealed to the state government to put more vehicles in the company to ease their movements.
Other places inspected by Nwogbaga and his teams were Ishieke Park, Presco flyover park and Sperando plaza park. The SSA directed the people to immediately relocated to the central park as any vehicle seen in those parks from Monday next week would be impounded by the State government.
