Obiano adopts measures to decongest roads in ‘Émber’ months

By James Eze

Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has taken pro-active steps to ensure a free flow of traffic throughout the last quarter of the year otherwise referred to as ''Ember months” by initiating measures to reduce gridlocks and eliminate carnage on both the State and federal roads in Anambra State.

Governor Obiano disclosed this when the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyegun paid him a courtesy call at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, at the weekend.

According to him; “the State Road Maintenance Agency is being strengthened to expand and accelerate work on filling potholes on roads and would now be working from the three zones of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi axis while all grounded vehicles on the roads are being removed.”

The governor explained that his administration has equally closed down some illegal motor parks at Upper Iweka Onitsha so that commercial vehicles would operate only from approved Motor Parks while security operatives have been stationed at strategic locations in the area to enforce the ban on indiscriminate loading and dropping of passengers.

He enjoined the Anambra command of the FRSC to work closely with the State Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to ensure that only road-worthy vehicles were allowed to ply the roads to sustain the initiative to keep the roads safe.

Earlier, the Corps Marshal, Mr. Oyegun said he was in the State to assess the readiness of the Agency for the end-of-year patrol operations.

Mr. Oyegun explained that the visit would enable him identify existing challenges and areas that need collaboration with the State government to consolidate on positive progress recorded last year.

He assured that they would deploy adequate personnel and logistics to all corners of the State to ensure road users experience minimal discomfort and also pledged to provide technical assistance to the staff of the Traffic Agency including supporting in ICT training.

The Corps Marshal thanked the governor for various support given to the Agency including provision of accommodation to the State sector and noted that the State was the first to send personnel for training at the FRSC Academy at Udi, Enugu State.

Highlight of the visit was the investiture of governor Obiano as the Grand Patron of the Special Corps Marshal.