C’River govt begins seizure of unpainted commercial vehicles

Cross River government has started to impound commercial vehicles not painted in the state colours and without a bold security number inscription.

Mr Uqua Edet, the state’s Commissioner for Transportation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the decision became necessary following increase in security challenges in the state.

It would be recalled that in 2018, Mr Jude Ngaji, the then Security Adviser to the State Government, had given a directive that all commercial vehicles be painted in the state colours of blue and White.

The directive also called on commercial transport operator to get a security number which should be boldly inscribed on their vehicles.

Edet told NAN that several meetings were held with commercial transport operators in the state on the issue with the deadline shifted many times to consider the operators because times were hard.

“It is important for us to know that the security challenge is growing every day, people are complaining of kidnappers and robbers using unpainted mini buses, taxis and even tricycles known as ‘keke’.

“Recently, the State Security Council met and a directive was given and it wrote officially to me that all commercial vehicles in the state should be painted in the state’s colours.

“We met with the operators and gave them until Feb. 15, which has elapsed again, even though there was constant public service announcement to this effect.

“Having given them that window for over three weeks, we decided to set up a team that works with the security apparatus of the state to ensure that any unpainted commercial vehicle is impounded,” he said.

He added that penalty for disobedience of the directive was impoundment of the vehicle after which the operator would pay the expenses of the security operatives that arrested him or her.

Reacting to the directive, Mr Ekpenyong Ewa, Chairman of the Tricycle Association of Nigeria, Cross River chapter, noted that the state government had given transporters over three years to comply.

Ewa said some of the operators such as he had obeyed the directive but many refused especially those with questionable character.

According to the Chairman, “with the state colours and security numbers the state government will be able to track vehicles in the case of any crime.

“Anybody that does not want to spray his vehicle with the state colours and security number knows what he is planning; there are many cultists, robbers and kidnappers parading as transporters,” he said. (NAN)