Akwa Ibom orders closure of illegal motor-parks
Uyo – The Akwa Ibom Government has directed operators of commercial vehicles and tricycles to relocate to government- owned motor-parks across Uyo so as to check criminal activities.
The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Bassey Abia gave the directive while interacting with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
Abia said that the relocation should be carried out immediately.
”A tax force committee will be out to arrest defaulters from May 24. We have met with all the security agencies and stakeholders in this regard to ensure the compliance of this directive,” he said.
He said the ministry had obtained the consent of the Governor, Chief Godswill Akapbio, to reopen the abandoned parks.
“The abandoned motor parks have become criminal hideouts for them to advance their nefarious activities.
”In the course of clearing the bushes around the parks we saw a decomposed body in one of the parks.
“We are going to close down all illegal parks which dot Uyo and move all commercial vehicles and tricycles to main parks.
”Even the AKTC Park along Ikot Ekpene Road is inclusive to avoid others using it as excuse.
“Uyo would be used as a test case. This development will cut across some communities within Itu, Ibiono, and Uruan that are close to Uyo Capital City,” Abia said.
According to him, the designated government- owned parks are Itam Park, Mbiobong Oku Park, Nnong Oku Park and Abak Road Park.
”We cannot be talking of uncommon transformation and parks are scattered across the state capital,” he said.
He said the ministry was working closely with Uyo Capital City Development Authority to design a master plan to include some designated off-the-road parks for tricycles and taxis.
The commissioner appealed to all tricycle operators in the state to register their vehicles and paint them in the state colour and warned that those who failed to comply would be penalised.
“All tricycles in the state must be duly registered; data of operators must be fully documented and it must be detailed. And all tricycles must carry the state colour.
“Any operators who fail to comply with the provisions of this policy will be made to face the full wrath of law,” Abia said. (NAN)
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