Transporter Decries Illegal Parks’ Operations

The Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities have been urged to urgently look into the operation  of illegal and unapproved motor parks in Port Harcourt and its environs in the state.
A renowned transporter in the state, Chief Chris Erijoy who made the call in a chat with The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said the manner and ways such motor parks are illegally set up constitute  problem in free-flow of traffic and even risk the lives of their commuters as most of the members are touts.
Erijoy said when such parks spring-off, the members were out to ensure that the protect it from government or any other relevant authorities from any confrontation by any agency.
“The worst is that sometimes, there will be a police presence within the area who connived with them to carry out the illegal business”, he opined, and further called for a proactive action to maintain sanity on the roads.
According to him, some who could not operate as a park organized themselves along the roads to load and off-load passengers without minding the dangers and traffic problems involved.
The stakeholder noted that it is an eye-sore that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state could not control such an ugly situation, stressing that it is an embarrassment and disgrace to the state.
Erijoy opined that their activities had negatively affected the traffic situation in the state as well as deprived government from revenue that would have accrued to its coffers ordinarily from its approved and recognized motor parks.
He advised that if they want to set-up a motor park, they should go through the laid down procedures and acquire all necessary relevant permit and procedure before such parks could operate, stressing that the impunity and authoritative attitude of these touts should be checked early before they turn the state to a lawless society.
Some of the areas where government should look out for these illegal motor parks are education by Mile One Diobu, Ikoku, Mechanic shed axis, RSUST roundabout, Lagos bus stop, Moscow by Aggrey road, Amadi Junction, Trans-Amadi ,Slaughter axis among others, the transporter noted, and added that, “  stitch in time saves nine”.