Rivers cracks down on illegal parking, unauthorized fees

The Rivers State Ministry of Transport has taken steps to restore order and transparency in the transport sector, with Commissioner Collins Onunwo, leading the charge.

The Commissioner, in separate meetings with the Motorcycle Operators Union and Heavy Duty Truck Stakeholders, outlined the ministry’s plans to tackle illegal parking and unauthorised fee collection.

Onunwo revealed that the ministry is in talks with the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to establish a special task force explaining that the task force will regulate transport activities across the state, with members easily identifiable by vests inscribed with “Ministry of Transport.”

He emphasised that the task force was a crucial step towards ensuring proper order in the transportation sector as a key priority for the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration.

“We are determined to eliminate illegal parking and unauthorised fee collection, which have plagued the transport sector for too long,” Onunwo stated.

Onunwo assured the union of the ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns, pledging to work closely with them to find solutions.

During the meeting with the Motorcycle Operators Union, Emmanuel Chezu, the union’s representative, expressed gratitude to the ministry for its proactive measures.

Chezu highlighted several challenges faced by motorcycle operators, including harassment by security agencies and a lack of designated parking spaces.

He called for increased support from the ministry to address these issues.

In the meeting with Heavy Duty Truck Stakeholders, led by Omeriji Opara Chidi, the Commissioner took a firm stance against unauthorised individuals selling stickers or collecting money in the name of the Ministry of Transport.

“Those involved in such activities are criminals, and we will not tolerate it,” Onunwo stated.

He informed the stakeholders that he had notified the Rivers State Commissioner of Police about the fraudulent use of his office’s name on tickets.

He advised that whenever such cases arise, the culprits should be handed over to the nearest police station for prosecution, with the ministry taking the lead in legal action.

The commissioner assured the stakeholders of Governor Fubara’s commitment to their cause, emphasizing that his office would act in line with the Constitution without interference.

“No one will be allowed to use the Ministry of Transport’s name to extort the public,” he stated.