The Controller-General of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV), Mr. Nelson Jaja, has said that the authority is set to move to the next level in the control and management of traffic saying, natural resistance to change is responsible for the criticisms trailing officials of the traffic outfit in the state.

Speaking to newsmen in PortHarcourt, the Controller-General said the Authority would introduce high technology in the control and management of traffic in the State, pointing out that when adequately deployed the presence of TIMARIV officials in the streets will be reduced as traffic violators can be monitored and tracked from a central portal server.

This, he said, would help apprehend violators as soon as they appear on the roads,no matter the time as well as ensure conviction in the law courts as the video devices would give away the plate numbers and nature of offences committed by the motorist.

Speaking further, Jaja said that many motorists have developed the culture of traffic violation and could not understand why they would conform to traffic regulations in full.

He also attributed their criticism of the Authority to the strictness employed by the officials and their zero tolerance to bribery and extortion in course of their duties.

Jaja said that pioneering the management of traffic in the State capital was not an easy task to a city whose traffic has been without proper control and management over the years.

He pointed out that motorists over the years were used to parking anywhere,reversing anyhow,shunting as they like, beating traffic with reckless abandon and running against it as they deem necessary. In this situation,Jaja said, offenders were treated casually by either parting away with little money or ignored by traffic wardens.

With the introduction of TIMARIV to curb choatic traffic situation in the state capital, the Controller-General said, it takes strong will to do the right thing.

He stated that his phone line has been inundated with calls from priviledged persons such as government officials,relations,friends and acquaintances to release vehicles impounded for traffic violation to their owners.

Jaja said in such situations,he had insisted that the right thing should be done. This, he stated had angered a lot of people who had resorted to blackmailing, railing,maiming, threats and assasination attempts on TIMARIV officials, including himself.

The Controller-General narrated an incident where he was shot at by a security official at Garrison Junction and a case where a motorist bit off one of the fingers of a TIMARIV official, chewed and swallowed it up.