By Francis Igata

ENUGU—WIDE jubilation followed yesterday Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s ban on the activities of traffic wardens/revenue collectors the Enugu State Ministries of Transport and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, that imposed a N25,000 penalty on traffic offenders.

Several complaints had trailed ECTDA,  activities especially alleged overbearing attitude on motorists while purportedly working for the three Local government Councils in Enugu Metropolis; Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East council areas.

Announcing the ban, Ugwuanyi said, “When I assumed office as the governor of this state, I promised to provide good governance to our people and to do all I could within the powers of my office, to make their lives better. As a responsible government therefore, we cannot fold our hands and watch individuals subject our people, as well as visitors to the state, to extortion and all manners of oppression in the guise of enforcement of traffic laws.

“It indeed challenges our efforts to sustain the peaceful and serene environment that Enugu has come to be associated with. As we do know, this is a civil service state and a situation where for example, a civil servant, who may be earning about N25,000 a month, is asked to pay the same amount as punishment for a traffic offence, is totally unacceptable. “I must however make it clear, that this measure is temporary and is not in any way, intended to encourage road users to disobey traffic rules and regulations. Rather, it is aimed at giving us time and opportunity to streamline the activities of enforcers of traffic laws in the state. It is also to enable our people to be properly educated on what constitutes traffic offences and what they should do to avoid committing them.”

A visibly elated motorist, Mr. Amaechi Ukwuani, who had fallen victim to the antics of the traffic warden/revenue collectors, expressed delight to the ban of their activities noting that the move has restored the confidence and goodwill of the people on the government.