…Thanks Govt For Constructing New Ultra Modern Vehicle Terminal In Yenagoa
The Bayelsa state chapter of the Road transport employees association of Nigeria (RTEAN), have lauded the Bayelsa state government on the construction of the new ultra modern bus terminal in Igbogene, a suburb of the state capital, Yenagoa.
The chairman of the state chapter of the transporters association, Chief Oyinkuro Ifie Ereboh gave the Commendations while speaking with Journalists 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, just as he harped that the gigantic project has also given a new aesthetic view of the host Community of Igbogene and the state capital.
Ereboh who also spoke on other issues militating against 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 concern authorities to individual applicants, saying the proliferation of motor parks though would have been a welcome development, but that lack of adequate checks and investigations by the authorities before the issuances of the operating permits has impacted negatively on the transportstion sector of the state economy.
In the same vein, against the backdrop of the 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 transport(MOT) permit and transportation vehicle conformity with the Bayelsa state colours, the RTEAN helmsman has said the union was not doing as the insinuations have it, but was rather working inline with the laid down rules and regulations by the state ministry of transport.
He also informed National Wire 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.
The transport employees Chief stated that while the RTEAN like its sisters 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.
In another development, against the insinuations making the rounds 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 fairs 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, this was just as he reemphasized 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.
