TIMA-RIV And Enforcement Of Trucks Prohibition

Recently, the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) through its Comptroller General, Mr. Nelson Jaja, announced its intention to liaise with the Rivers State Ministry of Works to begin enforcement of the prohibition of heavy duty trucks from plying the roads within Port Harcourt and other major towns during the day.

According to the authority, the enforcement is  one of the key strategies mapped out by the authority to effectively manage the transport system in the cities in order to ensure free flow of traffic in 2011.

The Rivers State Road Traffic Law No 6 of 2009 section 15 sub-sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 provides, among other things, that heavy duty vehicles and trailers carrying heavy equipment shall use the roads within the city and major towns in the state between the hours of 9.00 p.m and 7. a.m.

It defines heavy duty trucks to exclude government-owned coach buses, coach buses used for inter-state transportation and coach buses used for commercial purposes.

It also provides for a fine of N50,000 or six months imprisonment for anyone convicted of violating this law.

With only ten days away from the February 28, 2011 deadline given by TIMA-RIV, Rivers residents are yet to see signs of compliance to this law. What is clear for now, is that there is no indication that affected transport operators are in any mood to comply with this law without being forced to do so.

Heavy duty vehicles and trailers carrying heavy equipment still use the roads between the prohibited hours with impunity. This has often led to chaotic traffic situation in most routes within the major cities in Rivers State, especially Port Harcourt.

What is even more appalling is the increasing rate at which the trucks break down and block major access roads within the state. A couple of days ago, a truck that broke down at the intersection of Ada George and Whimpey-Iwofe Roads, forced motorists plying those routes to spend hours waiting for repairs to be effected on the truck before traffic flowed again.

This is just one case out of what has become a daily occurrence on most roads in Port Harcourt and its environs. Besides blocking the roads and obstructing traffic flow, these trucks are also major causes of accidents that sometimes record high rates of fatality. To say that the road worthiness of most of such trucks is questionable is to make mild of a serious situation.

While some of the trucks operate with faulty brakes and expired tyres, others do not have required lights that will enable them move freely at night.

Complying with the prohibition would certainly entail that transport owners take urgent steps to put their vehicles in good working condition.

Therefore, while appealing to transport operators not to wait until force is applied before they assist in this collective efforts to reduce the carnage and frustration which road users in Rivers State are currently experiencing, we urge the TIMA-RIV to make good its threat, this time, by enforcing this law and other similar laws aimed at sanitising the transport system in the state.

Really, this is not the first time, TIMA-RIV is issuing threats of enforcement of relevant laws on transport management without accompanying action.

The authority has issued several threats in the past concerning the removal of unserviceable vehicles abandoned in nearly all roads and streets in Port Harcourt as well as another threat to ensure taxis maintain the Rivers State colours, and yet another  threat was issued on the removal of illegal parks. All these threats have gone without the necessary bite.

We hope that the latest threat on trucks prohibition will not go the way of others.

The city of Port Harcourt is suffocating due to its chaotic transport system. No other time is more appropriate to enforce relevant laws that could restore sanity, than now that the cities are enjoying relative peace and attracting a renewed influx of visitors who in no small measure boost economic activities in the state.

We insist that TIMA-RIV must match its words with reasonable action in order to ensure that this all important sector is sanitised once and for all.