Abuja: The Federal Government has commenced the removal of heavy-duty trucks that are parked indiscriminately along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. This move aims to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance road safety.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the enforcement began at the Anambra border and extended through the 9th Mile axis of Enugu State. The operation is a collaborative effort coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Works, alongside security and traffic management agencies.
During the exercise, Mr. Smart Okpi, the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, mentioned that the operation aligns with the directive from the Minister of Works to clear all illegally parked heavy-duty trucks obstructing traffic on the highway. Okpi noted that stakeholders were informed through press releases and media announcements prior to the enforcement’s start.
Okpi stated, ‘We are here with the Federal Road Safety Corps to coordinate traffic, the Enugu State Transport Management Authority with towing equipment, the Nigeria Police Force to maintain law and order, and the Nigerian Army to provide additional security.’ He added that community leaders and business associations were involved in the exercise, contributing to the high level of compliance observed.
The controller highlighted that the trucks have begun vacating the expressway, making it clearer and safer for road users. He emphasized that the exercise would continue, with ministry officials monitoring the corridor to prevent a recurrence of the issue. Community leaders have been mobilized to report violations, and offending vehicles will be impounded and taken to the FRSC yard.
Okpi identified the lack of space for impounded vehicles as a potential challenge if the enforcement is expanded. He urged truck operators to utilize a nearby private trailer park and a space provided by the local government until trailer parks are constructed in the next phase of the ongoing project.
Mr. Mohamed Idris, Chairman of the Gariki Ugwuoba Cattle Market, described the exercise as timely and beneficial. Idris explained that market leadership has been actively sensitizing truck drivers, mechanics, and traders against parking on the roadside, despite the absence of a permanent trailer park.
Similarly, Mr. Chimaobi Nwangwu, Chairman of the Ugwuoba Cattle Market Task Force, noted that the market leadership received notification from the ministry a month earlier and began sensitizing truck drivers immediately. He expressed optimism that the joint operation involving multiple agencies would simplify enforcement and ultimately eliminate traffic congestion along the corridor.