Poor Road: Transporters Threaten Fare Hike

The General Overseer, Kingdom Life Gospel Church, Bishop Victor Uzosike (left), explaining a point to the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalipo Harry Banigo (2nd left), at the Cathedral’s project site of the church, while his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Uzosike watches, during the 2015 Women Convention in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

Worried by the poor
state of Industry Road in Port Harcourt metropolis, commercial transport operators that ply the route have threatened to increase the transport fare by 100 per cent if steps are not taken to rehabilitate the road.
Some of the transporters who spoke to The Tide, recently on the poor state of the road, lamented that the Industry Road, which is a viable commercial road had degenerated to the point that it has become almost a “death trap”.
One of the taxi operators, Mr Joe Akpan regretted that the road had been abandoned by the authorities concerned, inspite of its commercial value.
According to him, the Industry Road serves as a link road to some companies within the area, particularly the Port Harcourt Port which generates much revenue to the federal government.
“We are not comfortable on this road, I know how much I have been spending on my vehicle for maintenance, and the only way I can be encouraged to manage on is by increasing the fare,” he said.
On his part, Rufus Obiele who also operate taxi in the area, expressed disappointment over the neglect of the Industry Road for some time now.
He noted that the poor state of the road was affecting commercial activities in the area coupled with much rainfall in recent times, claiming that some big trucks can no longer operate freely, as there had been records of truck that fell on the road.
Obiele claimed that some of the commercial drivers had stopped operating along the Industry Road to avoid further damage of their vehicle.
Meanwhile, efforts made to speak with the Public Affairs Manager of the NPA Port Harcourt port, Mrs Barbra Anchukwu was unsuccessful as she could not be reached even through her mobile line.
But sources from the Public Affairs department of NPA confirmed that the state of the road is giving concern to both business operators and staff of the authority.

Corlins Walter