Insecurity: Ebonyi, NURTW shut down ‘illegal’ motor parks

Ebonyi State Government and the National Union of Road Transport Workers have directed the shutdown of all illegal motor parks within the State Capital, Abakaliki.

The duo said the closure, which is with immediate effect, was to checkmate movement of arms and ammunition as well precautionary measures.

Commissioner for Capital Territory Development, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, and Chairman of NURTW, Anthony Oko Ewa, announced the ban in a joint statement in Abakaliki, on Tuesday.

They said all loading and offloading of commercial vehicles within the state capital should only take place in approved motor parks.

“In view of the rising insecurity in the country, the Ministry of Capital City Development, Ebonyi State, has directed that all loading and offloading of vehicles within the state capital should only take place in approved public and private motor parks.

‘This is in a bid to check movement of arms and ammunition, as well as criminal elements in and out of the state, as undercover security and precautionary measures are being put in place to avert further security breaches in the state.

“To this end, all illegal and private motor parks not expressly approved by the Ministry of Capital City Development are hereby closed,” they said in a statement.

The duo warned all motorists and travelers to adhere strictly to the directive as anyone found contravening the order will be treated as a security threat and will be prosecuted accordingly.

“Passengers boarding commercial vehicles or alighting from such vehicles at unauthorized places, that is, any place other than the approved public and private parks will be arrested alongside the drivers”, they added.

They also announced the ban on the parking of vehicles along major roads in the city which include Afikpo Road, Ogoja Road, Waterworks Road, Nkaliki Road, and Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway.

“Any vehicle parked along the aforementioned roads, whether serviceable or unserviceable will be confiscated by the Ministry of Capital City Development and the owners prosecuted accordingly.

“It is important to note that parking of heavy-duty vehicles along the street in the capital city is highly prohibited. No truck, lorry, or any form of articulated vehicle is expected to park along the streets for whatever reason.

“Any such vehicle found along the road or street will be confiscated and the owner or driver prosecuted. The government has designated parks for all forms of commercial and industrial vehicles in the state,” the statement added.

According to them, tippers and heavy-duty vehicles have their park at Ochudo Centenary City, opposite Margaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki, and also a mega park beside Akanu Ibiam Flyover (Spera In Deo), Abakaliki.