Bus Drivers Want RSG To Reactivate Bus Stops

The Rivers State Ministry
of Transport has been urged to reactivate the various bus-stops in Port Harcourt and its environs.
A cross section of bus drivers plying the state made the call in a chat with The Tide correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday.
According to them, most of the bus stop stands and roots have been dilapidated or taken over by hoodlums, thereby preventing bus drivers to disengage or pick passengers at the government approved bus stops.
They said when they park at the bus stops the ‘boys’ who are not even members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) extort various sums of money from them.
Mr. Israel Okon said it is disheartening that hoodlums have taken over the government-owned bus stops thereby depriving them from gaining access to pick and drop their passengers.
Okon noted that the issue is embarrassing that when they park beyond the approved bus stops, they were arrested by law enforcement agents, adding that it is time government gives the bus stops a face-lift and chase away the illegal occupants for the interest of the public, the bus drivers and their passengers.
Solo Ekezie, another driver also called on the government to put the bus stops  in order by reactivating them for proper use by commercial driver and commuters.
He said most bus stops are without shelter while others have been taken over by insane people, stressing that they have been deprived the use of the bus stops in the state.
In his own reaction, Emeka Duru decried the condition of the various government-owned bus stops in the state and said the entire bus drivers are worried as they could not make proper use of the bus stops and appealed to the state government to come to their aid.
Another driver, Jonah Onuoha also called on the Rivers State government to reactivate the bus stops for proper use in the interest of the commercial bus and taxi drivers in the state.

Collins Barasimeye