NURTW PROTEST AGAINST ALLEGED ENCROACHMENT OF ITS PARK AS SOME RESIDENTS OF ABAKPA CALL ON ESWAMA TO COME TO THEIR RESCUE
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has appealed to Enugu State Transport Company Limited, ENTRACO to desist from encroaching into the park located at Afor Awkunanaw Central Park, Garriki, Enugu. The group made the appeal during a peaceful demonstration held at the park.
The members of the NURTW who sang solidarity songs, carried placards with different inscriptions such as ENTRACO ! ENTRACO! Your loading pit is Enough in Awkunanaw leave motor park for N U R T W, ENTRACO stop using jeef to intimidate us in Afor Awkunanaw motor park and Commissioner for Transport in Enugu State call ENTRACO Management to order to avoid Breakdown of law in Garriki Motor Park”
Addressing newsmen, the Chairman, Awgu- Imo- Abia bus branch, Mr. Joseph said the confusion started a few days ago when a man named Jeff Ogbodo who claimed to be an agent appointed by the ENTRACO Management informed them that ENTRACO vehicles would henceforth load in the central park. Also speaking on the issue, the Secretary, Enugu/ Nkanu Branch, Comrade Christopher Ngene said the National Union was authorized to manage the park since it came into existence in 1983.
Also the secretary, Awgu, Imo, Abia bus branch, Mr. Jonas Ekwe said the Entraco Company had many parks situated at Gariki where they collected revenue insisting it vacate the Afor Awkunanaw park. Reacting to the allegation, the Managing Director and representative of ENTRACO, Mr. Tony Igbokwe denied that the company’s vehicles were taking over the park.
He noted that the Agent was only assigned to collect revenue from ENTRACO vehicles which had been operating there for a long time. Efforts to get the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vitus Okoli to comment on the issue proved abortive, as he was said to be attending a meeting as at the time of filing this report.
In another development, People residing around Abakpa Bridge have expressed worry over the burning of refuse at the dumpster along the bridge.
One of the residents, the Reverend Peter Onwuegbu lamented the smoke emanating from the burning refuse usually in the evenings, disturbed his church service.
“They burn the refuse, then the smoke will fill the church and the whole area. When we ask them they will say it’s mad people but no mad person in that area.”
The Reverend Onwuegbu appealed to the Enugu State Waste Management Authority to check the burning of the refuse or relocate the dumpster from the area. Corroborating the claim, Mr. Chukwuma Eze, who had his business outfit around the area, said the smoke was inimical to the health of residents and passersby. Mr. Eze pointed out that the refuse was normally burnt by scavengers when the refuse was left un-cleared.
“All these refuse if they are packing them everytime, am not sure they will be putting fire, at times they just leave it.”
When Radio Nigeria Ezinwanne Okwuolisa, visited the site, ESWAMA officials were seen bagging the refuse. One of the officials, Mr. Gabriel Igwe claimed they cleared the refuse daily.
“Time of Harmattan, dry season, under the bridge, sometimes they tear bags, they put fire, we pursue them, we quarrel with them, we even fight them. But rainy season they can’t burn anything as you can see now, we are working, putting the refuse inside motor and everywhere is fine, nothing like fire here.”
Efforts to get the ESWAMA boss to speak on the matter proved abortive as she was not on seat.
SERAH CHINWENITE & EZINWANNE OKWUOLISA