The Imo State government has restated readiness to resuscitate its traffic management agency, ISTMA.
The state Commissioner for Transport, Rex Anunobi gave the hint on Wednesday when the Coordinator of Imo People Action for Democracy, IPAD, Marjorie Ezihe visited him in his office in Owerri, the state capital.
Anunobi disclosed that the two 250 staff members of the Imo State Civil Guard will be used to revive the ISTMA.
According to the Commissioner, the traffic agency will work in collaboration with the two mobile courts being requested for by the Ministry from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to check traffic breaches in the state.
He decried the manner in which motorists in the state flout traffic laws, saying that the ministry has dusted the transport laws and was poised for their their implementation.
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Anunobi said; “When the ISTMA is resuscitated, and the Mobile Courts constituted, they will work as the Ministry’s implementation arm to help curb the problem of touting, extortion, breach of traffic laws etc”.
The commissioner explained that the Imo Transport Company must of a necessity move to its new permanent site at the Arugo Layout area along with some other parks to decongest the capital city.
He said that the new Imo Modern Travel Park (IMTP) arrangement, Provision of the Exit Parks and relocation of the ITC will resolve more than 50% of Owerri City traffic problems.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Imo People Action for Democracy, IPAD, Majorie Ezihe canvassed development of infrastructure at the Arugo Park before the ITC is relocated.
She also called on government to ensure adequate security is provided around the Arugo Park so that both staff of ITC and travellers who would use the park will feel safe.
Ezihe equally urged the administration to come up with blueprint outlining its policy on transportation.
In another development, the Imo State Commissioner for Transport, Rex Anunobi stressed the need for the renewal of “wavier permit for heavy trucks on essential services”.
He made the remark when he received in audience a Director of the Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-Cola), Ekume Eze.
