Ogun govt makes u-turn on truck movement restriction

Category: News Published on Thursday, 14 February 2013 05:00 Written by Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta

The Ogun State government has reviewed the restriction order placed on the movement of trailers, trucks and other articulated vehicles weighing 20 tons and above.

The development is coming barely hours after members of the truck drivers association in the state protested over the new transportation policy.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun had earlier directed that as part of

measures to reduce truck induced accidents in the metropolis, movement of such category of vehicles should be restricted to 9.00am-1.00pm and 8.00pm-6.00am.

But, the truck drivers, during a protest in Abeokuta, maintained that the policy was unacceptable. They sought immediate release of their seized trucks.

President of the Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Isiaka Ajetumobi, said the drivers cannot operate within the

government’s stipulated time, adding “we want review of the time from 9.00am-1.00pm to stand, but, the evening time should be from 5.00pm to 6.00am.”

Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, who spoke in Abeokuta during a meeting with members of the

Associations of Granite Suppliers, Truck Owners and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, said the recent decision was “a response to compliant that the policy was affecting their businesses negatively”.