Christmas: Articulated vehicle drivers, security operatives to clear highways of touts – Nebuwa
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
Articulated vehicle drivers under the aegis of Heavy Duty Truck Drivers Association of Nigeria, HDTDAN,, Sunday, in Onitsha, disclosed that it would from 18th of this month, commence clearing and dismantling of roadblocks mounted by touts for easy flow of traffic this festive season and beyond.
The National President of the association, Chief Uche Nebuwa, made this disclosure stating that the association would not keep its hands akimbo and watch the roads being taken over by touts who he said constitute nuisance to the travelling general public.
“We are going to work with the police and other security operatives to free our highways from the grip of touts who constitute nuisance to the highways. These touts are more along Nsukka/Benue roads where you have over 50 illegal roadblocks mounted by the touts.
“We commend the effort of Zone 4 AIG in Makurdi because he has relentlessly fought to ensure free flow of traffic. This time we will work with all the security operatives to make the highways free,” he vowed.
Recall that the association recently condemned also the activities of local government revenue collectors who mount roadblocks on the highways thereby disturbing the heavy duty drivers adding that these drivers have their road worthiness, drivers’ license, vehicle particulars and stickers of Nigerian Military Widows’ Association, in their vehicles for easy identification.
According to the National President, “Touts, illegal revenue collectors, council chairmen, among others who obstruct/block our vehicles on the trunk A’ roads should steer clear in their own interest as we have resolved to deal ruthlessly with them.
“We worked for President Bola Tinubu’s election because he pledged to sanitize the transport industry and any touts that feel they can frustrate the smooth vehicular flow nationwide are just dreaming dream.
“The Local Government council levies we pay on the Federal roads are illegal but we pay the levies to curtail their illegal activities and will soon drag them to court to restran them from the illegality,” he stated.
The National President who is called “Onatalu Dike Nma,” by his admirers, revealed further that the association has gotten scores of court orders in its favour against touts and touting, pledging to save members from all manners of embarrassment and assault.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing ex- governors Dave Umahi as Minister of Works, Nyson Nwike, as Minister of Federal capital territory and Chief Festus Keyamo, as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The President in a related development demanded for refund of #10.2million he paid to the management of Regional market park at Dei-Dei, Abuja, under the control of Deborah Jacom adding that failure would lead to litigation.
He however. Pleaded to President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu for ever lasting peace in Southeast and by extension across the country.
Pic shows the heavy duty drivers’ President, Nebuwa
