Following the report of alleged intimidation, extortion and physical abuse on drivers plying Aba/ Umuahia route, by one Tochi Ephraim and his group, the Road Transport Employers’ Association Of Nigeria (RTEAN), Cooperative Union and National Association Of Road Transport Owners(NARTO) under the umbrella of Joint Motor Union, Ngwa Motor Park has refuted the claims of the drivers who protested on the allegation in Umuahia, the Abia State capital on Wednesday.
The union group in a statement made available to CANDIDREPORTERS.COM on Thursday said there’s no extortion of five thousand naira (5,000) on any driver going on at Osisioma, Aba.
The Unions also refuted the allegation that thirty million naira (30,000,000) was never paid by Tochi Ephraim to the Abia State Government.
The Unions also affirmed that the protesters are “out-law drivers who do not want to stay under the control of any of the transport Unions for fear of exposing their evil agenda with unsuspecting passengers.”
The statement also has it that the ‘current clearance of Osisioma junction/flyover by the 3 adjoining motor union executives operating in Osisiorna motor park in conjunction with the only known united drivers welfare group led by Mr. Chukwudi Obiagu was started with total compliance by all commercial drivers previously illegally loading and causing obstruction at Osisioma Junction and It is targeted to make sure that all commercial drivers move into the park and be identified before taking any passenger out.’
“Our struggle to clear the junction is in good faith and total allegiance to Abia State government directives on this junction that all commercial vehicles should go into government approved loading Park.” The statement read.
Read Full Statement Below:
Joint Motor Union, Osisioma Ngwa Motor Park (Cooperative Union, RTEAN, NARTO).
May we use this media to refute the allegation that #5000 is extorted from commercial drivers and #30,000,000 is paid by one Tochi Ephraim to Abla state government in respect of unions work at Osisioma Ngwa junction.
This is the work of out-law drivers who do not want to stay under the control of any of the transport Unions for fear of exposing their evil agenda with unsuspecting passengers.
The clearance of Osisioma junction/flyover by the 3 adjoining motor union executives operating in Osisiorna motor park in conjunction with the only known united drivers welfare group led by Mr. Chukwudi Obiagu was started with total compliance by all commercial drivers previously illegally loading and causing obstruction at Osisioma Junction as can be seen by any passer-by that the junction is now free for traffic flow.
It is targeted to make sure that all commercial drivers move into the park and be identified before taking any passenger out. Our struggle to clear the junction is in good faith and total allegiance to Abia State government directives on this junction that all commercial vehicles should go into government approved Loading Park.
Our efforts include stopping the incessant complaint of passengers who are being robbed, kidnapped and rough handled on their way by these unrecognized drivers. Please the public should disregard the statement of extortion as mere false allegation and malicious.
Signed:
Hon. Augustine Uruakpa
Apst. P.C.Ogu (JP)
Comrd. Chiemela Ahamba
Chief Cletus Onuoha
PRESIDENT COOPERATIVE UNION
Chairman RTEAN chapel 1
Chairman RTEAN chapel 2
Chairman NARTO