The Edo State Government has said that the re-introduction of colour code for commercial vehicles in the state was to sanitise the transport sector.
The State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Omo-Ojo Orobosa, said this while speaking with newsmen in Benin yesterday.
“We are re-introducing the colour code 23 years after and the benefit of this is to streamline the operation of commercial vehicles and for commuters to identify the lawful ones from the ‘Kabukabu’ operators.”
He said that security reports showed that criminals were using unpainted cabs to perpetrate crimes in the state.
Orobosa said that his ministry had been inundated with security reports that most of the kidnap and robbery cases in the state were perpetrated by drivers who use unpainted vehicles.
“So by January7, 2014, it became a traffic crime to commute passengers from any point in the state without your vehicle painted.
“Or in the alternative, if you are an inter-state vehicle, operating between Benin city to Delta state, we have now told them that such vehicles must bear colour code exemption permit on their windscreen.
“That means you have been captured by our data bank permitting you to operate as a commercial vehicle operator,” he said.
Orobosa said that the ministry had similarly introduced designated bus stops to reduce traffic congestion.
“We have identified about 320 bus stops spread across 56 roads and about 18 routes in Benin City made up of Oredo, Ikpoba, okha and Egor local government areas.
“The ministry, collaborating with transport unions and other stakeholders, can now easily identify which route a particular commercial vehicle plies with the introduced numbering and tag system,” he said.
The commissioner said that the ministry of justice had approved two mobile courts for the ministry where traffic offenders would be tried.
“I want to say that in the last four weeks so many traffic offenders, including government-owned vehicles, had been impounded and the drivers tried.
“All these are geared towards ensuring that our roads become safe for our use.
“We are collaborating with all traffic agencies including security outfits to achieve our desired aim.
“The ministry has managed to refurbish about 10 operational vehicles to improve operational logistics of the transport unit as well as other agencies under the ministry,” he said.