The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has pledged its commitment to ensure effective road management in the state by enacting laws that will guide the operations of road users.
Speaker of the Sixth Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barrister Onofiok Luke stated this in Uyo, while declaring open the public hearing on a Bill for a Law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Road Traffic Management Authority.
Represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. David Lawrence, the Speaker assured the stakeholders in the transport sector that their contributions to the bill will be considered by the legislature to ensure sustainable development in the state.
The Speaker stressed that, the transport sub sector of the economy is strategic to economic growth and social development, and therefore must be given adequate consideration, adding that, to avoid the loss of productive time and man hours in grueling traffic jams as witnessed in some cities, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has preferred a proactive approach to ensuring the state does not experience such congestion in future.
He accordingly charged stakeholders to participate fully and proffer ideas which will help the House enact the relevant law that will set parameters to achieve its goals on the transport sector.
On his part, Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Transport, who is also the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Idongesit Ituen, noted that the bill will make provision for safe environment in order to enhance investment.
Hon. Ituen explained that, given the commitment of Governor Udom Emmanuel to the industrialization of Akwa Ibom State, which he said is already yielding results, with the commissioning of Metering Solutions factory and the Syringe factory, among others in the pipeline, an efficient transportation system is indispensable to the actualization of the government's objectives.
Hon. Ituen observed that, Akwa Ibom State is already a destination for meetings, international conferences and the sports capital of Nigeria and therefore requires an organized transportation system to compliment that status. He called on stakeholders in the industry and transportation experts to cooperate with the House Committee to put together a brilliant piece of legislation for that purpose.
The Commissioner for Transportation and Petroleum Resources, Hon. Orman Esin, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Goddy Udoidung, noted that, the absence of such bill had created a vacuum in the transport sector. He expressed confidence that, the state Legislature will do what is best for the state.
The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Road and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKRIOMA), Dr Godwin Ntukudeh, appreciated the employment opportunity that the bill will create for the teeming youths in the state.
Prince Ntukudeh who is the immediate past Commissioner for Transport said Akwa Ibom State will benefit economically if the transport sector is well organized and lauded the initiative by the House Committee and pledged to lend his experience to the deliberation to advance the quest.
Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Sunday Oghenekaro stressed the need for establishment of motor parks around industrial areas like Onna Local Government area.
Meanwhile Stakeholders in the transport sector have commended lawmakers in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for their robust legislation on matters of public importance.
The commendation was handed down in Uyo, the State capital at the public hearing on a bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State Road Traffic Management Authority.
Traffic security operatives, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Tricycle Union of Nigeria and other road unions also presented their memoranda, and variously commended the State legislature and her leadership for working to improve the state.
The Akwa Ibom State Road Traffic Management Authority when passed into law, will repeal the Illegal Motor Parks and Hawking Prohibition Law as well as the Road Traffic Law.
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