…Residents lament as heavy-duty trucks turn streets, major roads to parking space in Oredo
The Edo State Government, Sunday ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of heavy-duty truck drivers for parking along ICC Road leading to Third Circular junction Benin City.
Their action became worrisome, and residents and other road users had to alert relevant authorities to come to their rescue.
The Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu who was alerted immediately raced to the scene. He frowned at the lawlessness displayed by the truck drivers. According to him, “this is sheer lawlessness on the part of these truck drivers. The state government has consistently warned against parking trucks by the roadside, thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic. There must be law and order. Anybody who runs foul of it will be prosecuted, no matter how highly placed. So, these truck drivers will surely be prosecuted.”
“I have ordered the immediate enforcement by the police and other traffic agencies. These lawless truck drivers must be arrested and prosecuted for traffic obstruction by parking along ICC Road by Third Circular thereby making the road impassable in Benin City. This will serve as a deterrent to others”, Shaibu added.
At the time of writing this report, over 10 trucks had been arrested and taken to the office of Edo State Traffic Management Agency, EDSTMA. The enforcement team was jointly led by the Traffic Officer, Nigeria Police Force, HOLGA Oredo, Mr Kessington Osifo and the Head of Operation, EDSTMA, Mr Osagie Imokpa.
Residents of the area heaved sighs of relief at the action of the government as they continued to express displeasure over the lawlessness of the truck drivers who have constituted a nuisance on the road, causing traffic gridlock.