Abia bans day-time movement of heavy-duty trucks in Aba, Umuahia, says closure of Ahia Udele market permanent

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

With effect from Monday, February 14, a ban on movement of articulated trucks in Aba and Umuahia during the day time would come into effect, the Abia government has announced.

Commissioner for Transport, Chief Godswill Uche Nwanoruo, who made the announcement in Umuahia, said government has given to his Ministry, the approval to restrict movement of heavy duty vehicles within the Aba and Umuahia metropolis from 6 a.m-9 p.m daily from February 14, 2022.

The move is coming after the tragedy of Ahiaudele/ Cattle Markets in Aba where a loaded trailer crashed into last Thursday, killing several persons.

In a swift reaction, Government closed down the market and ordered those doing business in the area to relocate to alternative places.

To enforce the restriction of the articulated vehicles, the Ministry of Transport has set up a Special Duty Taskforce on Transportation. Membership of the taskforce include representatives from Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RETEAN and National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW), as well as  staff and Directors of the  Transport Ministry.

Inaugurating the taskforce, Nwanoruo said that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved and directed the Ministry to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles from the 14th of February, 2022.

“In line with this mandate, from the 14th of February, 2022, no truck/trailer would be allowed to ply roads in Umuahia and Aba metropolis, between the hours of 6 a.m to 9 p.m. This is to curtail the incessant road accidents caused by these vehicles,” the Commissioner said.

He said the move was informed by the need to protect lives and property, clear all forms of obstructions from Abia roads and restore sanity.

According to the Commissioner, mechanics, artisans and traders should not be allowed to use the roads as their workshops or business spots, just as tricycle operators should be discouraged from turning the roads to their loading and offloading bays.

“We must ensure we have good road networks in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. Therefore, you will work with the Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) to remove all kinds of obstructions from our roads,” he said.

“You should ensure that Abia roads, particularly roads in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia are rid of obstructions so that the roads can be safe for everyone,” Nwanoruo said while charging members of the taskforce not to misuse the opportunity but to discharge their duties with optimum decorum.

He disclosed that plans to relocate luxury buses and articulated vehicles to the Osisioma Terminal and other government approved parks were at advances stages.

Chief Nwanoruo disclosed that his Ministry would provide the taskforce team with towing vans for the impounding of vehicles causing obstructions; uniforms and other logistics to assist them in executing their mandate, even as security personnel would be attached to their teams at their various zones of Aba, Umuahi and Ohafia.

Contributing, the Director, Vehicle Inspection Service, Prince Ekwenye, charged the taskforce to make safety of lives and property of Abians their priority.

Responding on behalf of other members of the Taskforce, the leader of Aba Zone, Sam Okafor, pledged their readiness to restore sanity to Abia roads, promising that they would carry out their duties effectively.

In a vote of thanks, the State Director of Transport, Comrade Boniface Okechukwu Oleka, commending the Governor Ikpeazu for seeing the need to approve the taskforce, appreciated the Commissioner for his brilliant policies and congratulated the members of the team, urging them to do their duty without fear or favour.

 Meanwhile, Abia government has said that the closure of the Waterside abattoir and Ahia Udele market in Aba was permanent.  

Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who met with traders of the closed markets last Friday in Umuahia, informed them that the closure, as directed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was aimed at safeguarding lives and preserving public health.

Chief Okiyi who expressed the deep pains and sympathy of the government to the traders over the accident that claimed four lives at the markets, informed them that Governor Ikpeazu has directed his Ministry to ensure that the medical bills of injured persons were settled by the government.

He highlighted the efforts made by government to relocate the market, particularly because of safety concerns raised by relevant agencies with a new Abattoir already under construction at Omumauzor in Ukwa West LGA.

“It will be irresponsible of this government to sit idly by and watch while the life and livelihood of our people are threatened daily by the very real hazards of doing business in and around the closed markets.

“We feel your pains and understand the circumstances that led to the market springing up there but we will have no excuse whatsoever to give to posterity if we fail to do the needful immediately,” Okiyi told the traders.

The Commissioner who was joined by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sir Michael Egwu and other Directors, informed the traders that the closure was permanent and advised that all those concerned should ensure that they moved out every of their items before the close of business last Saturday.

He further stated that the Governor Ikpeazu has directed the executives of Good Morning market in Aba to allow displaced traders from Ahia Udele to take up vacant shops in the market immediately, without demanding rent from them for at least 3 months, in order to make them settle with ease and continue their businesses with minimal or no challenge.  

He therefore directed the Director of Commerce in the ministry and the Chairman of Good Morning Market Committee to supervise the allocation of spaces and smooth resettlement of the displaced traders and report back to him thereafter.

 On the movement of cattle market to the Omumauzor facility, Chief Okiyi assured the traders that the ministry was already grading the road to the location while the Governor has directed the Ministry of Works to commence full reconstruction of the road, using rigid pavement technology, and hinted that the Ministry of Transport would release new guidelines on the movement of articulated vehicles into and out of Aba next week, as approved by the Governor.

“The new abattoir we are doing at Omumauzor is an ultra modern facility with water, multiple slaughter slabs and other provisions that will make life easier for our people. While we have paid for most of the work being done we are confident that normal activities can go on while we complete what is remaining to be fixed. It is better to do that than wait for another accident to happen or for an outbreak of a disease. The Government will clear the closed abattoir, fumigate it and also dredge the area where the market was previously located as well as demolish all the shanties used by criminal elements to hide and perpetuate crimes against law abiding citizens”.

Continuing, the Commissioner said, “Let me assure you that the Government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will not ignore or neglect our traders. We are poised to prevent future occurrence of the type of fatal accident we witnessed recently by providing alternative and safer locations for our traders.

“We are also putting mechanism in place to stop trailers and articulated trucks from entering Aba before nightfall. I strongly advise that all those in the affected locations move immediately to enable us do the needful”, he concluded.

Responding, the traders thanked the Government for the swift response to the distress calls made when the accident occurred Thursday and assured that they will partner with the government to ensure seamless relocation and resettlement of all the concerned traders.