Following the ban on collection of fines from motorists on account of breaking traffic rules in Enugu State, all the roads in the State capital have now been deserted by men of the task force.
National Mirror correspondent, who moved round Enugu, reports that none of the various traffic task force, who hitherto patrolled the streets on Keke NAPEP, motorbike and buses, was sighted.
The development has given further credence to the belief that they are not interested in regulating traffic but are merely avenues of extorting residents by anti-government forces.
Prior to the ban, every road in the State was taken over by stern-looking traffic officials, who harassed and exploited motorists at will.
The situation was worst in Enugu East where the local government officials collect N25,000 from motorists for merely crossing some invisible lines or over-taking other vehicles along the Nike Road.
It was, therefore, a deep feeling of relief and excitement for residents when words reached the streets that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had ordered the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu Capital Territory, for a period of one month.
The one month grace, according to the governor was to give every traffic offender apprehended the grace to be enlightened, corrected and educated on the offence(s) committed, after which the individual would be allowed to move on without being asked to pay fines.
Ugwuanyi while handing down the directive to stakeholders in the transport industry in the state, stated that his action was in response to the persistent complaints from the public over “the activities of some people purporting to be working as traffic wardens cum revenue collectors for the State Ministries of Transport and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority as well as three Local Government Councils in Enugu Metropolis”.
Consequently, the governor directed that “in order for us to address the foregoing issues properly and to save our people from further unnecessary hardship, I hereby order the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu metropolis, for a period of one month. (National Mirror)
