Gozie ben 08037901004
The establishment of Imo State Traffic Management Authority IMSTMA? by the Okorocha administration through the instrumentality of the Imo State House of Assembly, IMHA, Law No; 14 of 2011 is another milestone recorded by the administration that deserves commendation from all and sundry. The laudable ideal which is aimed at curbing the mind- boggling traffic situation across the state, especially, in the capital city of Owerri has no doubt portrayed the legislative and executive arms of government as one that is not only proactive, but sensitive and responsive to the yearnings of the Governed.
According to findings, major causes of the ugly scenario which has made driving and even pedestrian movement within the municipality a horrible and energy-sapping exercise include the apparent conversion of every available space to a motor park by commercial bus and tricycle operators. As the illegality continues unabated, tricycle riders popularly called “Keke”, aggravate the situation by picking and dropping passengers arbitrarily.
Though inadequate read network is undoubtedly contributing to the traffic menace, the wanton disregard for road traffic rules and regulations by all manner of users is being fingered by experts in road management as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into our V societal fabric.
As IMSTMA authoritie battles to nip the problem in the bud, street-trader’s and hawker’s who have defiantly refused to relocate to the “Sornach Business Axis” as directed by the state government, has become most worrisome. Again, while Owerri residents grapple with the situation, the proliferation of traffic control groups (uniforms) in the capital city which has thrown them into confusion and amounts to duplication of duties, calls for urgent attention; This, if corrected, will afford the inhabitants the opportunity to appraise, pillory and as well as extol the concerned authority as the case may be.
Considering the foregoing, I make bold to implore members of the State House of
Assembly that midwifed the birth of IMSTMA to rise to the challenge of enforcing the empowerment of IMSTMA to take full control of traffic management so that the objective of initiating the noble ideal, will not be an exercise in futility. By so doing, they will justify the mental exercise and energy dissipated in the process of enacting the Law No. 14 of 2011.
Truly, the Chief Don-Linus Onwukaike led group is slowly but steadily recording tremendous success in reducing traffic jam on our roads through efficient service delivery and prompt evacuation of damaged vehicles. This is not an easy task, considering the influx of tourists and commercial businessmen/women into our dear state on daily basis. Busied by this onerous task, it is therefore very unfortunate that some bad eggs and misguided staff of IMSTMA have made themselves willing tools of enemies of the present administration by using the media to blackmail their employers that provided them the obviously scarce job opportunity.
Recently, a group under the aegis of Concerned IMSTMA Workers for Justice accused the management of unsubstantiated acts of misconduct. In the report, they alleged that every applicant paid a compulsory fee of N1 ,500 without stating the purpose. They accused Gov. Rochas Okorocha of selling the outfit to Chief Don Onwukaike and appointing his brother as his representative. That they were trained without allowances, employed without letters and complete uniforms. They brought to the fore their myopic reasoning, high level of illiteracy and ignorance by insinuating that IMSTMA should be ‘under ENTRACO or Ministry of Transport, hence their salary, according to them, should be structured into the civil service of the State. The question now is, if the evil spanner they are throwing into IMSTMA does not belong to their paymasters, why will they form an association within the lees than five months of operation of this well organized traffic body?
The truth is that members of the group who were discovered to the chagrin of the management to be regular students of some institutions in the State and staff of other private/public establishments, took to blackmail because their plan to replicate the ghost worker syndrome was discovered and scuttled by the IMSTMA management team that subsequently placed them on probation and withheld their appointment letters. From empirical evidence, their allegations are baseless, unfounded, spurious and ridiculous. Honestly, they insulted the sensibilities of Imo people by accusing Governor Okorocha of selling the outfit to someone else and placing his brother in the second fiddle position in a corporate organization he has sold (according to them) and by implication lost every right.
Is it not laughable that they expected everything on a platter of Gold including, three- months free training/materials, free uniforms, free foot wears, free belts/caps, free application forms and even employment into a job that the least person (graduate) earns a minimum of N25,000.00 monthly salary. I am yet to see any right-thinking human manager and employer of labour who will hesitate to sack or place any of his staff on probation for breaking the constitutional rule on code of conduct. Who on earth will expressly issue an appointment letter to a fraudulent staff whose appointment is yet to be confirmed as a manager? They are merely crying wolf and shedding crocodile tears because they could not perfect their criminal act. It is on this premise that I humbly enjoin my colleagues as journalists to always cross-check our facts, to avoid heating up the polity unnecessarily.
To the committed and dedicated staff working tirelessly in tandem with the objective of the founding fathers of the project called IMSTMA created to make our daily activities around our dear state Imo a pleasurable experience, I say, be focused and persevere for the road to success is always tortuous and excruciating. The beginning of every good initiative is very difficult, but your way to professional stardom is just by the corner. Avoid acts that will besmirch the good name and images of these vision-bearers IMSTMA. For as our roads get freer, Imo will continue to be better to the honour and glory of God. Traffic rule offenders that you apprehended and punish according to IMSTMA Law must complain and criticize you. Never mind. It is natural. The overall good of our road users suprecedes individual interest. More grease to you elbows.
Combating The Rising Scourge Of Poverty And Hunger In Nigeria
Man’s basic needs are food, shelter and clothing. These are also referred to as the prime necessities of life, without them the existence of the human creation is threatened, endangered and meaningless. Although there are other necessaries, food in particular forms the core of human existence. Locomotion cannot take place without adequate food. Food comes in varieties with different functions all combined to give the body nutrients and nourishments to enable it function efficiently and optimally.
Shelter does the function of shielding and protecting man from t, vagaries of the weather. Clothing adorns man, distinguishes him from lowly creations like animals.
These basics of life when adequately available and affordable can sustain and elongate The 1ifepans of Nigerians even in the absence of luxuries. Today these basics are threatened and lacking. Many Nigerians are living on the fringes of existence, finding it difficult to earn a living. Nigerians are hungry, haggard and unable to provide the needs of their families. .Nothing is more nightmarish and embarrassing than when you are not sure of food for your household the next day. The poor Nigerians are scraping a living, some scavenging at refuse dumps for scraps to survive. The cost of living is high and the standard of living is at the lowest ebLS4 is not exaggeration, neither is it alarmist that Nigerians are suffering, for evidences abound. Staple foodstuffs such as rice, beans, garri are scarce and expensive. A cup of rice and beans is sold for N50 and N60 respectively. Four cups of garri is now N 100. A tuber of yam goes as far as N400 depending on size and quality. A loaf of bread has suddenly gone up for about N250. Milk, meat, fish, stockfish, crayfish and other household items have risen beyond the reach of many Nigerians. In families today breakfast is a luxury.
Shelter is no longer within the reach of many Nigerians. Building material have spiraled.. Nigeria .is not fighting any war yet Nigerians are in. a war-like situation. Hunger is ravaging. Poverty is excruciating. Although grownups or the aged can afford to resist hunger but for growing little children hunger threatens them mentally and physically.
Elsewhere certain factors trigger off price increase of food, goods, services and as soon as those factors such as scarcity of petrol seize to exist, prices go down naturally. In the case of Nigeria, once risen, they are either constant
Or continuous.
The questions are, are Nigerians supposed to be poor and hungry when Nigeria is one of largest oil producing nations? Have we taken advantages of the vast natural resources, arable land mass, clement climate and aquatic endowments? Do Nigerian leaders take the larger population of the underprivileged in the scheme of things? The answer is axiomatically NO.
Corruption remains unabated and unchallenged with collateral damage on the poor and helpless Nigerians. In January this year, the petrol subsidy was subsidy regime were exposed by the House of Representatives Adhoc committee but to the consternation of Nigerians those indicted are still walking free. While those in positions of authority prefer half-measure importation of petrol to the rehabilitation of the ageing refineries or building new refineries to the detriment of majority of Nigerians.
Now that poverty and hunger are staring the faces of many Nigerians, local State, Federal governments and wealth Nigerians are called upon to intervene, stave off further deterioration in the living conditions of the majority poor and down-trodden.
In the interim, like emergency situations, the federal government should release grains from its strategic grains reserves at rock-bottom prices to cushion the effects of hunger. Employment should be fronting and centre stage.
No Nation is truly independent if she cannot feed her population. In the log term, production of food, goods must be given serous attention by all levels of government. Evidently there are no snags except diversion of agricultural loans to political farmers instead of genuine farmers. This must stop forthwith. Already the advantages exist. Good weather, land mass and high-yielding species of seedlings are pre-requisites for-sufficiency in food production.
Poverty and hunger are not in-born or hereditary but environmental. With dedication and committed leadership in place, it is only then poverty and hunger can be banished from the land.
