Some residents of Port
Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have condemned the indiscriminate abandonment of vehicles on major roads and streets of the city.
Some residents who made the condemnation in a chat with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently said such abandoned vehicles caused traffic obstructions and as well as constitute hideouts for criminals and lunatics who unleash mayhem on unsuspecting passers-by.
According to them, the state government and other relevant authorities should take proactive measures in ensuring that the roads and streets are rid of such vehicles in order to encourage free flow of traffic and rid the city of other criminal activities.
They lamented that in some areas abandoned vehicles included trucks, tankers and trailers, adding that they portend great danger even at nights and harped on the need for urgent attention.
The residents also condemned the use of rickety vehicles by some drivers and even companies, saying that they often broke down on the road, thereby causing danger to motorists and other road users.
A resident, Mr Cambell Opii, said it is dishear tening that some owners of vehicles deliberately abandoned them on the roads without finding ways of removing them, and insisted that such habit should be resisted by relevant authorities.
Another resident, Ezekiel Tuborkombia also said it is an eyesore that people abandoned their broken down vehicles for a long time on the road, which had now become a criminal he-out or cause nuisance on the road, and called for appropriate sanction in order to serve as deterrant to others.
Also condemning the act, Mrs. Gladys Apollos lamented that some vehicles were abandoned on major roads and streets without any caution sign to warn on-coming vehicles, thereby posing great danger to all road users in the area.
In his reaction, Emeka Chigozie said the act of abandoning vehicles on the road was alarming because they congest the road. He called on the authorities to swing into action now that the city had been given a face-lift following the massive road constructions and rehabilitations in the state.
Ada Epelle called for urgent steps to rid the streets of abandoned vehicles, which she said is defacing the beauty of the city, pointing out that government should remove them to a particular site or auction them since the owners have abandoned them for a long period of time.