ASABA/Nigeria: The Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) Chief Patrick Ukah, and the Chairman of Delta State Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Traffic Decongestion on Benin-Asaba Expressway, has charged members to be committed, thorough and diligent in the discharge of their duties.
Ukah, who gave the charge in a meeting in his office, remarked that it was to enable motorists, commuters and other road users to experience hitch-free vehicular movement before, during and after the yuletide.
Delta and Anambra States, set up traffic control task forces to have a symbiotic relationship to overcome issues of traffic gridlock.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee has members that cut across some strata of government.
There are personnel from the office of the (SSG), transport and health ministries, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police, 63 Brigade Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO’s) and Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA).
The State Transport Commissioner, Chief Mike Okah functions as the Vice-Chairman of the taskforce, while the Permanent Secretary in the Directorate of Transport, Mr Gabriel Fuludu serves as the Secretary.
Ukah stated that uncontrolled vehicular movement could cause chaos this yuletide to motorists, passengers as well as other road users while he reiterated that “to nip such situations in the bud, Delta and Anambra States collaborated to set up traffic control task forces in their respective states.
He pleaded with all members to be committed, adding that the assignment was paramount to the state Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the generality of the people.
The SSG stated that from the Asaba International Airport on the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha Expressway to the Old Niger Bridge, all vehicular movement would strictly be guided to avoid traffic congestion.
The terms of reference for the taskforce include, to educate motorists, deploy adequate road signs, directional signs, barricades, tow-trucks, to cater for commuters in distress amongst other functions, during the yuletide.
The Inter-change flyover temporarily opened at the Koka Junction had ameliorated the issues of traffic congestion experienced in the past at that point.
The committee members have since commenced regular activities ranging from traffic control, removal of all forms of obstruction, mostly broken-down vehicles, amongst other activities that really improve free flow of vehicular movement.
The police, VIO’S, Soldiers, FRSC, NSCDC and DESTMA officers were all strategically positioned daily at different junctions, U-turns as well as other sensitive traffic flash points.
It is hoped that the symbiotic relationship between Delta and Anambra States, would make motorists, commuters and other road users to heave a sigh of relief this yuletide.
