Following an auto crash that claimed about four lives at the Aba waterside bridge, the Abia State government has imposed restrictions on heavy-duty vehicles’ movement from 7 am to 8 pm in both Aba and Umuahia.
The incident involved a truck carrying a container that lost control, leading to the crushing of a Toyota Sienna car and a tricycle, resulting in four fatalities and several injuries.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, the government disclosed that previous directives restricting the movement of heavy-duty vehicles within Aba and Umuahia areas between 7 am and 8 pm have been restored.
Former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration had restricted the movement of heavy-duty vehicles in Aba and Umuahia, from 7 am to 8 pm. But the heavy-duty vehicle operators had flouted the order after he left office.
The government further direct the Ministry of Transport and other relevant agencies of the Government to immediately activate all existing vehicle road worthiness and safety policies and enforce the laws as may be necessary to ensure safety on the roads, especially as the yuletide approaches.
It also revealed that it will set up a taskforce which would work on a 24-hour basis in Aba and Umuahia with a direct mandate to remove all damaged or immovable vehicles on the road as quickly as a report is received and this would apply to heavy duty, commercial and private vehicles.
