Against the backdrop of high public expectations, the newly reconstituted Task Force on Illegal Trading, Motor Parks and Mechanic Workplaces in Rivers State has raised the ante by embarking on efforts to ensure normalcy around major taxi parks and bus stops in the city of Port Harcourt and its environs. Indications to this emerged when a detachment of the task force who were on monitoring compliance mission took their activities to Rumuigbo, off Obi Wali Junction and Psychiatric Road, National Network observed that the presence of the task force team numbering about 11 brought palpable fear among the taxi drivers who felt threatened by the unanticipated appearance of the task force.
According to a taxi driver, who spoke under condition of anonymity, the drivers had feared that they may be relocated from their parking and loading space which is just by the road side but were surprised that the team only came to ensure order.
Just before this time,the team had demanded to see their leadership but could not as they were being informed that the chairman of the branch was away.
Some of the commercial drivers who misconstrued the presence of the task force had gathered to explore ways of finding solution to whatever might be the problem. And, seeing that their chairman was no where around, they called on one Sotonye to dialogue with them.
But the task force team merely explained to the drivers to move further away as not to disrupt the flow of traffic in the area as they were presently constituted.
Meanwhile, those not satisfied with the arrangement said that, to move forward was to become a burden to the shop owners who may be affected by the way they were being asked to park their vehicles. While those well pleased with the decision felt that it would not disturb their businesses.
But those who reacted to the approach by the task force commanded them for being civil in the way they went about their duties which should make compliance easy for the stakeholders. Others argued that their manner of relating was not unconnected with the recent sack 11 members by the task force coordinator, Felix Nwadibe, DSP (rtd). Those sacked were reported to have collected bribe from members of the public around Choba area in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The coordinator of the task force had called on members of the public to report such cases to his office for disciplinary action.
