Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra state on Thursday commenced clampdown on operations of articulated lorries in various parts of Onitsha following increasing cases of road crashes in the State.
The Corps Commander, Andrew Kumapayi, in a chat with newsmen in Onitsha, said no fewer than twelve tippers have been impounded with various offences including road worthiness, worn-out tyres, broken glasses, extra lights, among others.
He said the exercise which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and other sister agencies like VIO, DSS, NDLEA and the Police was targeted at restoring sanity on the roads in the state.
He said the impounded trucks would be handed over to the Vehicles Inspection Officers and would be released when they fulfilled the minimum safety requirements as well as attitudinal change on the roads.
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He said, “This is a continuation of clampdown on operations of tipper drivers in the state as passed by the state House of Assembly about two months ago on the need to check the menace on the roads.
“The motoring public are complaining bitterly about increase in crashes which is attributed to the tipper lorries. No fewer than twelve tippers have been impounded and we’ll ensure they are brought to book.”
According to Kumapayi, the exercise which began in Awka, the state capital would cut across the three senatorial zones in the state.
One of the drivers whose tipper was impounded, Ekezie Okoye described the conditions required of them to meet as too stringent in view of their financial implications, appealing to the authorities to consider their plight.
“I wonder if there’s any tipper that can boast of all the required items for the vehicle to be road worthy. It’s either the tyre is bad or the lights are not complete, and these are all money consuming,” he lamented.
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