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. . . Anambra Plans to Procure Vehicles for TRACAS
By Chioma Ndife
The Anambra State Government has issued a three-week ultimatum to commercial vehicle owners and drivers operating in the state without the approved colours, to comply or have their vehicles impounded, Reports Chioma Ndife
The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Christian Madubuko, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office at Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka, on 25th September, 2019, during a familiarization tour by House Committee on Transport in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
He said the extension was to enable all the remaining vehicles owners to paint the new yellow and black colour after which the government would begin to impound the vehicles of defaulters. He maintained that the painting of buses and tricycles in the state was to ensure uniformity of all commercial vehicles plying Anambra roads, especial those domiciled in the state.
He said the colours would help the relevant authorities to check the activities of criminals, as well as ensure orderliness in their operations in the state, even as he enjoined drivers yet to re-paint their vehicles in the approved state colours to do so immediately to prevent their vehicles being impounded.
Dr. Madubuko revealed that the State Ministry of Transport would soon commence the registration of all commercial vehicles and transport companies within the state and those plying Anambra roads, saying it would enable the ministry to have a database of all commercial vehicles both within the state and those coming into the state.
According to the Commissioner, having such database would enable the ministry to obtain personal information in cases of emergency.
‘Every transport company in the state must register their vehicles with the ministry in order to have their number plates and drivers’ contacts in our database,’ Madubuko said.
He commended the immediate past commissioner in the ministry, Mr Uchenna Okafor, for introducing and initiating the uniform colour for all commercial vehicles and tricycles in the state, stressing that it would go a long way in curbing crime in the state.
The commissioner also noted that the state government had concluded plans to procure new vehicles for the state-owned Transport Company of Anambra State (TRACAS) to revitalize the service.
Madubuko further said the state Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) would also be revitalized to continue to better serve the public. He stressed that he would work on ATMA as an agency to improve the transport sector in the state and free the state of Traffic being faced in some quarters.
Noting the need for ATMA and TRACAS to live up to expectations
Speaking at the visit, the chairman, House Committee on Transport, Hon. Paddy Udeoba, expressed the committee’s readiness to work with the commissioner in tackling challenges facing the sector, saying they would continue to collaborate with the State Ministry of Transport to ensure that the transport sector was repositioned for good.
According to him, the committee would not hesitate to give all necessary backings that would assist the ministry in ensuring that the people of the state enjoyed a hitch free traffic in all parts of the state.
Mr. Udeoba said there was need to upgrade the Anambra State Transport Company with a view to ensuring that it operated in universally acceptable standards in the transport sector.
The chairman added that the House Committee members would make law’s that would guide the transport sector to achieve good results.
Also Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr. Daniel Ezeanwu, described the visit as timely, noting that the ministry had acknowledged suggestions and observations of the House members. He assured the committee that their suggestions and complaints would be put into action.