Drivers Want RSG To Check Touting

Commercial drivers in Port Harcourt have called on the Rivers State Government to urgently tackle the increasing menance of touts popularly known as “Agberoes” on the roads as their activities are becoming embarrassing to the public, including commuters.

A cross section of drivers and passengers who spoke with The Tide in Port Harcourt said it is high time government took drastic action to avert the emergence of another monster.

Some said apart from government recognized traffic agencies, the touts have eventually taken over every bus-stop and all roads in the city, as well as set up illegal motor parks to extort  money from drivers.

The Tide also gathered that  some put on uniforms with fake identity cards and hire vehicles to carry out their illegal businesses by chasing after unsuspecting drivers and most times harass and embarrass the occupants of vehicles.

“They have formed illegal unions and groups which if not checked now would metamorphosed into something that could cause the state a lot of concern,” a concerned commuter said.

A  commercial taxi cab driver who plies Rumuola to Boro Park said “touts increase every day with different modes of operations”.

The driver, who requested not to be named said they are tired and do not know what to do again as the National Union of Road Transport  Workers (NURTW), which is the  recognized body in the road transport business also showed lack of concern in the action of the touts.

“It look as if they have the backing and support of  NURTW, so let the government save us from these heartless boys”, he said.

At Aggrey Road axis of Lagos bus-stop and station bus stop all in Port Harcourt township, it is always an ugly scenario.

The touts at both sides of the Aggrey Road used hard objects to hit on vehicles especially taxi cabs that refused to pay them ransome, while some were allegedly commissioned to collect money on behalf of the JTF stationed there.

At station bus-stop, drivers paid N300.00 for every full load of passengers to a group of touts, who have taken over the government bus-stop.