Illegal Motor Parks: ‘NURTW Loses N186m Annually’

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Rivers State chapter, loses about N186 million annually as a result of the operations of illegal motor parks in the state.

Deputy Chairman of NURTW Mile III Park, Chief Humphrey Emeto, gave this hint in an exclusive interview with The Tide on Wednesday.

Emeto explained that due to the operations of illegal parks at various areas of the state, most vehicles have ceased to use the Mile III Parks for loading of passengers.

This, he said, “has affected the revenue accruable from commercial drivers loading in the parks,  and has subsequently affected money paid daily into the Rivers State government coffers.”

According to him, the Mile III Park has a capacity of 5000 vehicles, which pays check-off dues daily to the union, from which part is paid to the state government.

On his part, chairman of the Abali Park, Chief Bethel Dappa, also stated that the same fate had befallen his park.

He said though the Abali Park had a capacity of 300 vehicles, far less now used the park for loading preferring, instead, to patronise illegal parks.

The Tide’s investigation revealed that officially each vehicle that loads in government approved motor parks pays a check-off due of N100 each to government and NURTW per day.

Chief Emeto therefore, use the opportunity to call on the Rivers State government to close down illegal parks operating in the state.

The Tide’s investigation further revealed that the illegal parks are operated by individuals who in most cases don’t pay check-off to Government or  NURTW.

Also, some members  of NURTW, Abali Park who spoke to The Tide on condition of anonymity said most of the illegal parks were  owned by top government personalities in the state.

Sogbeba Dokubo