TRANSPORT MINISTRY PLANS RETURN TO ORIGINAL IMO COLOUR FOR TAXI/BUS IMO
…VOWS TO END ILLEGAL PARKING AND REVENUE DIVERSION
Imo State Ministry of Transport has revealed plans to revert to the original Imo colour for commercial vehicles otherwise known as Taxi/Bus Imo operating in Owerri municipal.
The Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Rex Anunobi, who disclosed this during a courtesy/interaction visit by Taxi/Bus Imo Transport Association to his office on Wednesday, said his ministry has considered it necessary to end the confusion as the colour presently used in Imo belongs to a neighbouring state.
The Commissioner who maintained that Imo colour enacted by the law of Imo State remains ‘blue and white’, said the Ministry of Transport will also use the painting and fleeting as an instrument to generate data on the number of commercial vehicles operating in Owerri municipality as well as help government put in place critical measures that will also help in checkmating crime.
Barr. Anunobi further disclosed that all commercial vehicles including those on intra and interstate routes will henceforth be routed and fleeted by the Ministry of Transport to entrench sanity in the transport sector in accordance with the Shared Prosperity vision of Gov. Hope Uzodinma.
According to the Commissioner, certain reforms enunciated in the Ministry’s blueprint will put a lasting stop to illegal parking as well as shore up revenue for the state government.
Emphasizing the need to ensure that all revenue leakages are plugged, the Commissioner said that the ministry is weighing the option of partnering with the leadership of Bus/Taxi Imo Transport Association in the collection of the MoT daily motor tickets as against consultants and touts who often divert government revenue from transport sector.
Barr. Anunobi also disclosed plans by his ministry to build an ‘All Purpose Imo Modern Travel Park along Onitsha road and exit/terminal parks at Amawire Orji, old Mechanic Village Nekede as well as upgrade Mbaise Park along Egbu road, Egbeada Market Park along Orlu road.
According to him, the parks will serve as terminal points for buses coming from Aba, Enugu, Okigwe, Onitsha, Portharcourt, Mbaise, Umuahia, Orlu and other places adding that the exit/terminal parks will naturally end illegal parking and traffic congestion in Owerri capital city.
Barr. Anunobi, therefore, solicited for the cooperation of the Association assuring that his ministry will at all times ensure that their interest is well protected.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Association, Chief Kingsley Nwachukwu, pledged their readiness to work closely with the Commissioner and his team to ensure sanity in the transport sector especially in Owerri capital city.
He also promised that the Association will help the ministry in its drive to shore up government revenue from the transport sector.
Those present during the visit include the Permanent Secretary, Lady Ngozi Izunobi and Directors in the ministry, Chief Nze Franklin Iwunze and Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, SA Monitoring, Implementation and Enforcement and SA Media/Special Projects to the Honourable Commissioner.
Ebere Uzoukwa
SA Media/Special Projects to the Honourable Commissioner.
23rd April 2020
