Transport
Indiscriminate Siren Use Worries PH Motorists, Others
Motorists and
Commuters in Port Harcourt have condemned the indiscriminate blasting of siren by some drivers in Rivers State.
A cross section of motorists as well as commuters who spoke to our correspondent in random interview yesterday described the behaviour of some bullion van drivers, and escort patrol vehicle drivers who are in this habit it as a great nuisance and noise.
According to them, some of these drivers even when they are alone in a vehicle, blast their motor siren and revolving light in order to beat traffic, and thereby causing panic to other road users.
Worse still, they said some of these drivers especially when conveying their expatriate bosses to from work act as if they are ignorant of other road users.
They asserted that some criminals have also joined suit as they also fixed siren and revolving lights on their cars to avert police checks and break traffic at will.
Although, most of these acts were carried out by security officials, the road users have called on the Nigeria Police to enforce the law against indiscriminate blasting of sirens by non-authorised officials and arrest and prosecute such offenders to serve as deterrent to others, in order to have some sanity on the roads.
A commercial driver plying Borikiri to Lagos bus stop, Mr Ifeanyi Gabriel, said it is unfortunate that Port Harcourt, Rivers State is the most lawless state in terms of indiscriminate use of siren.
Gabriel lamented that another area where such act thrives is at the Borikiri axis, adding that with one road in and out, the police patrol vans and those conveying some foreigners caused a lot of nuisance and chased other road users to cause road crashes.
He therefore appealed to the authorities to take drastic action as to ameliorate the ugly trend.
Another driver, Joe Samuel, who plies Port Harcourt to Bori in Khana local government said the situation is even worst along that axis of the road as most of the companies operating within the area intimidate other drivers with their sirens and cause some other road users to panic and clear their vehicles into the trenches or big pot-holes.
Our bolt-joints and tyres are always affected while trying to clear for drivers on siren because if we don’t clear, their military personnel often embarrassed us with their guns”, Samuel said.
Also commenting, Mrs Sarah Inko-Tariah condemned the act of impunity exhibited by drivers with siren cars as they do not regard anybody as human being on the road, and called on the Commissioner of Police and other relevant authorities to take action in order to save the lives of the innocent road users.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer of Rivers State, DSP Ahmad Kidaya Muhammed, was not successful.
Collins Barasimeye
Transport
Immigration Steps Up Anti-Touting Vigilance
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Passports Command, Ikoyi, has increased its surveillance on touting in a bid to check extortion within its jurisdiction.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Tide in Lagos, last Friday, the Immigration Comptroller, Passports Office, Ikoyi, Lagos, Deputy Comptroller Liman A.I , said the negative impact of touting on the nation’s economy would not be allowed to continue under his watch.
He said ,”we are applying persuasion, dialogue and seeking the support of all well meaning stakeholders in this area to spread the anti-touting message and dissuade people from unlawful acts. However, we could apply coercive power as the need arises.
“With the selfless leadership shown by the Comptroller General, Alhaji Mohammed Babandede, we at the PCO, Ikoyi, Lagos, have decided to re-dedicate ourselves to duty and complement the efforts of the CGIS.
“We are prepared more than ever to wage the anti-miscreants war relentlessly.
Liman assured the general public of friendly environment for legitimate transaction in an effort to strengthen the national economy, warning deviants to shun touting and other related vices.
According to him, “the command has keyed into the various strategies including the use of ICT in gathering of intelligence, among others.
“The service believes that the fight against miscreants within its corridor cannot be undertaken by the service alone, hence our call on Nigerians to partner with us in ensuring that the passport seekers do not patronise touts to defraud them. Our resolve is unshaken and our commitment is total”.
On her part, the Public Relations Officer of the command, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI), Mrs Adetoun Shiyindemi, commended the Deputy Comptroller Liman, for his selfless service, pointing out that he has really given the officers and men of the command a sense of belonging.
“Since the Comptroller came in, it has been a servant-leader relationship here at Ikoyi PCO and we are all motivated to put in our best with what the CGIS has given us, you will see a new immigration service”, she assured.
By: NkpemenyieMcdominic, Lagos
Maritime
Union Urges NIMASA, RSG To Dredge PH/Bonny Jetty
The Bonny Maritime Transport Association (BMTA) has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Rivers State Government to dredge the Port Harcourt/Bonny Jetty to enhance marine operations.
The union said the low shore of the river hampers its operations and grounds boats.
The Marine Safety Officer, BMTA, Comrade Kings Don, who made the call, said the low shore of the jetty was not helpful to marine operations.
According to him, drivers and passengers find it difficult to ply the route whenever the tide is low, thus wasting man hours.
“Sometimes, we push the boat to a level it would afloat due to low tide suffered in the jetty. We are appealing to NIMASA and the state government to assist and dredge the jetty for more efficiency”, he pleaded.
Don described the Port Harcourt/Bonny Jetty as the gateway to Bonny Island and other riverine communities, and called on NIMASA and the state government to intervene and make the marine sector viable in the area.
He said that the prompt dredging of the jetty would enhance water transportation in the state and improve its revenue generation.
He, however, commended the security agents, especially the Nigerian Navy and the marine police, for rescuing the waterways and creeks from all forms of criminality.
Comrade Don appealed to the security agents to engage in 24-hour patrol of the routes and other channels to save lives and property.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Boat Mishaps: Ship Owner Blames Absence Of Safety Regulations
A renowned ship owner in the country, Alhaji Aminu Umar, has decried lack of standardisation and enforcement of safety measures on the nation’s inland waterways by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
He also blamed lack of will to enforce regulations, safety, standard and regulations on overloading, night voyage, rickety and old craft as causes of mishap on the inland waterways.
Alhaji Umar, who is a former president, Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), said in Minna, Niger State, recently that enforcement of safety and standard on the nation’s inland waterways was weak.
Reacting to incessant boat mishaps in the country, Umar said, “there is no standard applied on movement of people, as all kinds of boat are being used. It is important that we standardise, because lack of safety and standard will increase accident.
“I think, the task of NIWA is to standardise conditions and procedures on the nation’s waterways”.
He also called for the regulation of movement of badges and passenger boats across the port environment.
“It’s a huge risk allowing badges moving containers around the port area side by side with boats carrying passengers.
“Moving people and containers at the same time is a huge risk, and a safety concern.
“NIWA and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should see to this and tackle the menace”, he said.
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