News
Stakeholder Hails Wike’s Ban On Illegal Motor Parks, Roadside Mechanics
The one month grace by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike to illegal motor park operators, road side mechanics and street trading to vacate the roads for a free flow of traffic and sanity has been described as timely though long over-due.
The Chairman of Rivers Drivers Transport Co-operative Union Ltd., Mr Binoye Sunday made the remarks in a chat with our correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt, Monday.
Mr Sunday said the order would help decongest the roads and also bring the state back to its Garden City status, and called for adequate enforcement of the order after the one month duration.
The stakeholder in road transport used the medium to congratulate the Governor on his re-election victory and subsequent swearing in, and commended him for the bold step he took to sanitise the state as some unions and persons constitute nuisance on the roads and streets of Port Harcourt and its environs, harassing innocent citizens, extorting illegal fees in the name of union, maiming and stealing people’s properties.
According to him, he had been agitating for such ban for decades because Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in connivance with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (UNRTW) and some individuals have allegedly been using provisional authorities to monopolise the government roads at the expense of other road users.
He hinted that those who gained the support of the local government areas through the provisional authority used it to extort and intimidate the helpless taxi, bus and tricycle (keke napep) drivers on a daily basis through multiple taxation.
Mr Sunday passionately appealed to the government and other relevant authorities, to wade into the issue especially in the area of the taxi and bus drivers, as the two local government councils allegedly issued enabling operational authority to the National Union of Road Transport Workers to collect illegal taxes on the roads and streets owned by the government, thereby restricting some persons and causing gridlocks on the road.
The Chairman lamented that government should also look into the issue of double taxation in the state as many people have printed illegal tickets and forcing it on the commercial vehicle operators, adding that an enforcement team should be set-up to stop all illegal union collections as tax, because it is causing untold hardship to the people as well as show the level at lawlessness in the State.
“Government should specify how much tax transporters should pay in order to create an enabling atmosphere for the motorists to operate as law abiding citizens so as to put a halt to the illegal double taxation,” he reiterated, pointing out that most of the taxes they collect from the motorists were not remitted to the government.
He disclosed that commercial drivers on a daily basis paid N100 as park maintenance ticket, N100 for booking, N350.00 for the National Union ticket, N100 for MOT, N100 for Obio/Akpor ticket and another N100 for PHALGA ticket, stressing that enough is enough for the union to show proof of payment to the state government account, so that those behind this ugly trend should be brought to book.
Sunday thanked the Governor; Chief Nyesom Wike for promising to construct three fly-overs in the state to decongest the roads, but that on the issue of another biometrics, government should refer to their records as the exercise had been concluded long ago.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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