Indiscriminate Parking Of Petrol Tankers Worries Motorists In PH

The indiscriminate parking
of petroleum tankers along UTC Junction, Abonnema Wharf, Njemanze and Ikwerre Roads in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is posing a great concern to motorists and commuters plying the areas.
The development is now causing a serious traffic gridlock along the areas as motorists were stuck in the hold-up for hours.
Some of the motorists and communities who spoke with our correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday said the situation has become an eye-sore that if not checked would lead to loss of lives and properties and called on the authorities to relocate the Abonnema Wharf tank farm that had been the cause of the heavy gridlock as tanker drivers tried to get their products from the petroleum storage tanks.
According to them, two out of the three lanes of the road have been occupied by the tankers, leaving only one lane for other motorists saying that the tanker drivers should be made to operate only in the evenings or night and not when the roads are busy with vehicular movement.
A commercial bus driver, IK Madueke said, “The problem is compounding, everyday and it is affecting the bus drivers mostly who want to run as many trips as to realise the required daily balance for the vehicle owner.
Madueke noted that the government and other authorities should rise up to the challenge in the interest of the state and its citizenry as regards free flow of transportation.
Another commercial driver, Solomon Akpakan also expressed dismay over the situation, saying it is an embarrassment as people waste their previous time in hold-ups.
“Because of the way the tankers are parked, we spend more time and waste the little fuel in our cars because of the hold-up, and I think it is time for the government to look into it,” he posited.
A commuter, Caroline Amadi lamented that after purchasing their goods and wares at Creek Road market, they have to waste more time along UTC – Abonnema Wharf axis of Port Harcourt due to the indiscriminate parking of tankers and said something urgent should be done to ameliorate the plight of the motorists and commuters plying the area.