The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has lauded the state government for the construction of the new ultra modern bus terminal in Igbogene, a suburb of the state capital, Yenagoa.
Chairman of the State Chapter of the RTEAN, Comrade Oyinkuro Ifie Ereboh, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen during an interview in Yenagoa on Monday.
He noted that the construction of the terminal in Yenagoa by the Governor Diri’s administration “has again demonstrated government’s commitment towards the rapid socio-economic transformation of the state through infrastructural projects”.
According to him, “the gigantic project has also given a new aesthetic view of the host community of Igbogene and the state capital”.
Ereboh, who also bared his mind on issues confronting the smooth operation of the transport sector in the state, sited unnecessary issuances of park operating permits by the Yenagoa Local Government Area and other concerned authorities to individual applicants as a key challenge in the sector.
Noting that the proliferation of motor parks would have been a welcome development, but that lack of adequate checks and investigations by the authorities before the issuance of the operating permits has impacted negatively on the transportation sector of the state’s economy.
The RTEAN helmsman also debunked alleged imposition and collection of illegal levies on motorists, tricycle operators and truck drivers in the State by the RTEAN in the name of the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) permit and transportation vehicle conformity with the Bayelsa State colours.
Contrarily, he said the union was rather working in line with the laid down rules and regulations by the state’s Ministry of Transport.
Ereboh who also hinted that his office was not even enforcing the government’s directive on tricycle operators, popularly known as ‘keke’, asked the public to be weary of people operating in the name of transport unions, saying the RTEAN is a law abiding association which is against illegalities and extortions.
He stated that while the RTEAN, like its sister transportation regulatory bodies, were directed by the Government to enforce the new regulations amongst its members, the actual amount charged by his association for both the MOT permit and the state colour conformity for transportation vehicles as well as trucks operating in the state were a total of N6000 and N8000, respectively.
Meanwhile, against insinuations that upon the completion of construction work at the ultra modern vehicle terminal, Igbogene, that the State Government may shot down every other existing park in the state capital so as to decongest traffic in Yenagoa, the RTEAN Chairman has called on the Government to reconsider its plans if it does exist as speculated.
He stated that the call became necessary considering the brunt that would be borne by commuters who would be evacuated at the terminal, even though their final destinations were some of the motorable, but remotest parts of the state, saying such category of travellers might incur higher fares which would take a heavy toll on their resources even as they were facing harsh economic realities, following the location of the new terminal as compared to their second destinations upon their arrival.
He re-emphasized that the government should allow the existence of the old parks, which he noted, predated the new terminal, saying their closure would impede the growth of the transport sector of the state.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa