By : Amaechi kingsley
Residents and visitors of Owerri last weekend heavy traffic congestion caused by the yuletide rush in Owerri Metropolis, the experience recently been a major occurrence in major routes of Owerri metropolis with this year’s experience superseding previous yuletide seasons.
Our reporters who visited Owerri Metropolis observed passengers waiting endlessly at various bustops for vehicles to convey them to their various destinations but to no avail a situation that caused hike in fairs than the usual amount as commuters were seen trekking to their destinations.
Commuters who spoke in anonymity to Trumpeta newspaper expressed their disappointments on keke riders who operated at the said high prices, noting that commercial vehicle operators do not only use traffic congestion and the yuletide rush to their advantage but also impose high fairs after 7:30pm during raining days.
They pointed-out that traffic wardens are often not in their duty post after 7:00pm, even in heavy traffic congestion, as they called on the appropriate authorities to efficiently control and manage traffic at major commercial junctions in Imo state.
Mr. Cyril Mbawaon, a keke operator who spoke to Trumpeta newspaper said that the increase in the fairs was as a result of the yuletide rush, adding that they now spend more man hours on a trip than normal.
Meanwhile, residents of Owerri and its environs have expressed their appreciation on the recent supply of electricity during this period, attributing it to the President Jonathan’s transformation plan which saw the privatization of PHCN.
Speaking to our reporter, a group of Journalists called Imo state Investigative Journalist Forum (IIJF), had recently lauded the transformation programme of President Jonathan pointing out that his administration has done well in re-vitalizing the electricity sector of the country.
