Traders at the ever-busy
University of Port Harcourt round-about have blamed the persistent traffic congestion experienced in the area on the activities of taxi drivers.
Some of the traders who spoke to our correspondent on the traffic situation at the junction, said the taxi operators who ply Rumuokoro, Rumuola and Rumuokuta axis were the main cause of the hold-ups.
According to Mrs Evelyne Eme who sells fish, vegetables among other items, the taxi drivers load their passengers on the road.
Mrs Eme said the taxi operators have no responsible union that would call their members to order , a situation she said was largely responsible for the chaotic traffic problems which sometimes causes accident in the area.
Another trader, Mr John Uchendu who delas on Women’s clothings said the traders do not come out to sell their goods.
He also blamed the taxi drivers for taking undue advantage of the space left from motorists and other road users, adding that the taxi drivers use both lanes thereby blocking motorists coming from Rumuokoro, Ahoada and Choba maintown respectively.
He therefore called on the appropriate authority to call the taxi operators to order to sanitise the area.
However, some of the taxi operators when contacted rather blamed the slow pace of work on the East West road for the hold ups.
“My brother, when this road is finished, hold up will disappear, said Daramola Ade, a taxi driver.
He opined that so long as  the drivers were going about businesses, there was no way hold ups would not be experienced in the area.
A man who claimed to be a taxi union official who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the rise in unemployment has made many people to go into the taxi operating business.
According to him, there was no proper co-ordiantion by the taxi operators, stating that their operations as regards loading of their vehicles is “Survival of the fittest.”