The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of illegally parked trucks along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and ensure the free flow of vehicles on the busy highway.
The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of illegally parked heavy-duty trucks along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety on one of the country’s busiest highways.
The enforcement operation, which began from the Anambra border through the 9th Mile axis of Enugu State, is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Works in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Enugu State Transport Management Authority.
Speaking during the exercise, the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Mr. Smart Okpi, said the operation was in compliance with the directive of the Minister of Works to remove all heavy-duty trucks illegally parked along the expressway.
According to Okpi, the ministry had earlier notified stakeholders through media announcements and press releases before the commencement of the enforcement exercise.
“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 said.
He added that community leaders and business associations had actively participated in the operation, resulting in a high level of compliance by truck operators.
“So far, people have been complying. You can see that the trucks are already leaving the expressway, making it clear and safer for road users,” Okpi stated.
The controller said the ministry would sustain the enforcement by continuously monitoring the highway corridor to prevent a return to indiscriminate roadside parking.
He explained that community leaders had been encouraged to report violations, while any offending vehicles would be impounded and taken to the FRSC yard.
Okpi, however, identified limited space for impounded vehicles as a potential challenge if the operation is expanded in the future.
He advised truck operators to make use of a nearby private trailer park and a temporary parking space provided by the local government pending the construction of permanent trailer parks under the next phase of the ongoing road project.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Gariki Ugwuoba Cattle Market, Mr. Mohamed Idris, described the exercise as timely and beneficial.
He said the market leadership had already sensitised truck drivers, mechanics and traders against parking along the roadside, although the existing private trailer park had become overstretched.
Idris appealed to the government to provide additional parking facilities to accommodate the increasing number of heavy-duty vehicles using the corridor.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Ugwuoba Cattle Market Task Force, Mr. Chimaobi Nwangwu, said the market received official notification from the Federal Ministry of Works one month before the commencement of the exercise and immediately began educating truck drivers on the new directive.
He acknowledged that while many operators complied, some drivers continued to ignore the warnings until the joint enforcement operation involving security and traffic management agencies commenced.
Nwangwu expressed confidence that sustained enforcement would permanently eliminate indiscriminate roadside parking and significantly reduce traffic congestion along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
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