Some commercial drivers in Port Harcourt and its environs have sent a Save-Our-Soul message to the Rivers State government and the State Police Command over the daily extortion, harassment, and intimidation they are subjected to by touts and area boys.
Vanguard reported that to register their grievances, the drivers took their protest to Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, where they called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to intervene.
Operating under the auspices of the Commercial Drivers Welfare Association of Rivers State, they voiced deep frustration at the continued activities of the touts, especially given the current economic realities in the country.
Speaking, the State Chairman of the Association, Christopher Ezeali, said the drivers go home with nothing after the extortion and buying of petrol, and appealed to the governor to ban the sale of local government tickets. He appealed for the introduction of an electronic, harmonised government tax system to ensure proper accountability by the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.
Ezeali also appealed to the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to deploy a special team to patrol flashpoints where touts hold sway, including Ikwerre Road, Aba Road, Emenike, Eleme junction, among others, to stop the trend.
The Rivers CDWA boss stated, “We will operate from morning till night and go home with peanuts. We work like elephants and eat like ants. At the end of the day, we will end up losing our vehicles, some of which we purchased at higher prices because of the multiple taxes on the road.
“Somebody will come out and ask for security money, executioner money, mostly at Rumuola. Rumuola has now become a death trap. Rumuola has become the Sambisa forest. Rumuoka, Waterlines, Eleme junction, Ikwerre Road, and Lagos Bus stop. Please, our dear governor, we don’t need any compensation for our members from the government because when they push us to the wall, it might lead to a clash that might cause loss of lives.”
The Drivers therefore asked the state government to immediately step in and save them from touts and restore sanity along major Roads and Motor Parks.
“We need an electronic and harmonised government tax system implementation for proper accountability from the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.
“Secondly, the government should impose a ban on the sale of local government tickets because the local government by-law did not empower them to generate revenue from mechanically propelled vehicles, yet all local governments are selling and enforcing their daily tickets across the 23 local government areas, amounting to N8,400. Three, a total ban on ‘Area Boys’ arresting our members on the road. Four, a special police team that will always respond to our distress calls.
“Five, an appeal to the Commissioner of Police for an adequate patrol team along Aba Road and Ikwerre Road on a daily basis from 6 pm to 6 pm, mostly at Oil Mill, Eleme junction, Artillery, Genesis, Garrison, UTC Roundabout, Ikwerre Road, Emenike junction, Ikoku flyover, and Rumuola. This will reduce car theft and attacks on drivers and passers-by,” Ezeali added.
Though nobody addressed the protesters at the government house, some officials listened to them, as they also marched to the headquarters of the State Police Command along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, to register their complaints.
Addressing the protesters, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ikechukwu Okoro, assured them that their complaints would be communicated to the appropriate authorities.
ACP Okoro stated, “Our duty is to maintain peace and tranquillity in the society. I will take your message to the Commissioner of Police, stating that your association came out on a peaceful protest, stating that they are being harassed and humiliated in the course of their duties by numerous revenue collectors.
“The Commissioner of Police will, in turn, send a message to the DPO (Divisional Police Officers) to make sure that you people work without being oppressed within your various jurisdictions.”
