Onitsha Industrial Harbour Inhabitants seek Anambra Government intervention in addressing truck drivers' menace

Urgent government attention is needed to address the security, environmental and social challenges posed by drivers of articulated trucks that constitute nuisance at the Onitsha Industrial Harbor. 

This was the observation made by our reporter when he spoke with some residents and owners of industries at the harbour on the conversion of the entire harbour to parking lot by the drivers. 

When our correspondent visited the harbor, it was observed that the six- lane roads strongly built to accommodate heavy duty trucks that convey raw materials and products to and from the industries, had articulated trucks packed in four lines making it very difficult for vehicles to pass. 

As a result of the presence of the lorry drivers, small shanties had begun to spring up where all manner of criminal and immoral activities were being perpetrated, according to some of the residents. 

The General Manager, Communication of Dozzy Group,  one of the industries in the harbor, Sir Oselloka Offor and a resident, Mr Francis Ogbuokiri lamented how expatriates and workers as well as residents in the harbor find it very hard to move about in the night because of the criminality thriving due to the cover provided by the articulated trucks.

According to them, government should as a matter of urgency, come to their rescue as their women are constantly raped while they now live in fear of being kidnapped. 

However, Some of the truck drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that they pay as much as #6000 to the Truck Drivers Association to secure a parking space in the habour.

Others who noted that they sometimes stay for an upward of one month without going on any trip, said it has become unrealistic for them to pay the #500 charged them daily at the park constructed by Government for them at upper Iweka, hence their decision to park there. 

Reacting to the development, Barr Chike Maduekwe, Chairman of Anambra Physical Planning Board, the State Government Agency charged with planning the state's physical space, said the Board had consistently pulled down shanties springing up and sustained efforts at relocating the articulated trucks to a park built by government at Upper Iweka but all to no avail. 

While emphasizing that the Government of Governor Willie Obiano will not tolerate any form of rascality, Barr Maduekwe warned the drivers to leave as government frowns seriously at any activity that is capable of undermining its efforts at securing the lives and property of Anambra People. 

"This is totally unacceptable. The present administration is taking steps to encourage investors to come to the State and now, these people have invested billions in establishing these industries. It will amount to failure in its responsibility if government does not protect these investments and the Obiano administration will not fail in that regard. It is more worrisome, because most of these truck drivers have no business in this Habor", he said. 

Barr Maduekwe maintained that he is not aware of any reason why the drivers will not heed government's directive, adding that they will return with a more decisive action to rid the harbour of the mess made by the drivers.