The Abia State Government has begun enforcing its newly introduced centralised transport arrangement in Umuahia, marked by the gradual relocation of commercial transport operators to the Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal in the state capital.
According to The Punch, briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, after this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the administration had engaged transport stakeholders extensively before rolling out the enforcement phase.
According to him, the government held several consultations with unions and operators to address concerns and reduce resistance ahead of full implementation.
He explained that the relocation exercise had now advanced, with operations already ongoing at the new terminal, despite initial pushback from some transport operators.
“There appears to be some push backs among some of the operators and this is as a result of the fact that people are not easily giving in to change.
“What is happening is that all the parks in the state have been moved to the bus terminal.
“The Honourable Commissioner for Transport and his team have been holding a series of meetings with all the operators. They had one yesterday. And a few of their anxieties will be addressed very soon. Enforcement also will commence today to bring all the operators into the terminal.
“The first phase of operations involves the operations of the Abia Green Shuttle buses. The second phase involves informal transport operators, while the third phase will involve the formal transport operators,” Kanu stated.
The Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu, maintained that the reform was not intended to deprive anyone of their livelihood but to restructure and sanitise the transport system for greater efficiency and order.
He explained that unions were directed to bring in representatives of their members to the terminal for proper identification and tagging, adding that the system was designed to be transparent, with loading carried out on a first-come, first-served basis regardless of affiliation.
He further claimed that a large majority of operators had already accepted the new arrangement, while discussions continued with those yet to comply.
He also highlighted improved facilities at the terminal, including a drivers’ lodge and air-conditioned waiting areas for passengers, describing the infrastructure as part of efforts to modernise transport operations in the state.
He said, “He revealed that transport unions and operators were told to bring four of their workers each to the terminal, where they would be properly identified with reflective tags and carried along.
He further noted that the terminal operates a transparent system that allocates loading opportunities on a first-come, first-served basis irrespective of union affiliations, insisting that about 80 to 90 per cent of operators had embraced the initiative.
He added that continuous engagements were being held with those yet to fully comply with the government’s transport policy.
He equally noted that the government provided a drivers’ lodge, fully air-conditioned and furnished with seats, while passengers sit in a conducive air-conditioned environment, adding, “what else will you need as a transporter or even as a passenger? I think everything good about transportation is embedded in that Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal,” Ukaegbu stated.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the centralised system was aimed at easing congestion in urban areas, eliminating disorderly loading points, reducing costs incurred by operators, and improving security around transport hubs.
He added that the reform would ultimately benefit both passengers and operators, insisting that long-standing issues of extortion in the transport sector were being addressed through the new organised structure.
