The Abia State Government has clarified that it has no plan to hijack the jobs and revenues of transport unions following the relocation of commercial buses to the Nnenna Oti Central Bus Terminal.
It made the clarification in response to the anxiety among some transport operators that the enforcement of operations at the central bus terminal could transfer their daily jobs and revenues to the government.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the jobs and revenues of transport operators and their unions have not been taken over by the government, contrary to the speculation.
Kanu, who said that majority of transport unions in the State are in support of the ongoing relocation to the new bus terminal, explained that the fears raised by some of the transporters in about 29 motor parks in Umuahia are currently being addressed.
“We are meeting the transport operators and a few of their anxieties will be addressed soon,” the commissioner said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu, dismissed the claims that the government is taking over the jobs of transport unions and their members, saying that an organised system of transportation was introduced to replace touting and congestion.
Speaking on security, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, disclosed that Abia State is experiencing an influx of unregulated tricycle operators from neighbouring states.
Ekeoma, who said that the influx of the tricycle operators could pose a security threat to the state, noted that the state government was tightening its security architecture to ensure that their operations are closely monitored.