BREAKING: Anambra Colours: Shuttle Bus Drivers’ Protest, Force Govt To Halt Arrest, Vehicle Confiscation

Shuttle Bus Drivers in Anambra State have pro­tested over compulsory painting of their buses in the State yellow-and-black colours......CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>.....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The protest by the drivers com­menced at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, through the Jerome Udo­ji Secretariat to the head office of Anambra Road Traffic Manage­ment Agency (ARTMA) office along Enugu -Awka Expressway.

Reacting to the protest, the Commissioner for Transport, En­gineer Patricia, directed Emeka ‘Konti’ Okonkwo-led ARTMA to end the harassment of the drivers and confiscation of vehicles.

Speaking to newsmen on why the drivers embarked on the pro­test, the spokesman, Chibuzor Idi­ka condemned the insinuations that the drivers didn’t want to paint their vehicles.

Idika revealed that the shut­tle drivers were only asking the government to give them more time to raise the necessary funds to be able to pay for the painting of their buses.

He said that most drivers operate on hire purchase basis, maintain their vehicles while the sellers focus on regular payments.

The spokesman noted that the challenge of incessant ha­rassment and intimidation by of­ficials of ARTMA should be halt­ed as they would be when able, appealing to ARTMA to adhere to the Commissioner’s directive and stop arresting drivers until further notice.

Idika expressed appreciation for the governor’s decision, stat­ing that the drivers are grateful for his listening ear.

“I want to say kudos to the government for listening to the shuttle drivers. This shows that the government is on our side. We will support the government 100 percent,” he said.

He, however, commended Gov­ernor Soludo for understanding their plight and supporting his ad­ministration, urging immediate stop to the harassment and arrest.

Also speaking, the Coordi­nator of Bus Drivers at Upper Iweka, Tochukwu Anagboso expressed disappointment with government officials over the ill-treatment of drivers

Anagboso said that shuttle bus drivers provide critical services to the public and the government, appealing that their operations should not be disrupted in order not to have adverse effects on the households and the economy.

He explained that most buses are new to the state and should be given enough time to paint the buses in the Anambra co­lours.