By Our Correspondent
Motorists plying the busy Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra State are crying out over what they describe as a “double tragedy” — deep, dangerous potholes on one hand and heavy fines for allegedly driving against traffic on the other.
The motorists accused the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) of focusing on enforcement and fines rather than addressing the road condition that, according to them, is forcing some drivers into the opposite lane.
One of the affected motorists, a commercial bus operator, who gave his name simply as Mr Obinna, narrated how his vehicle was intercepted by ARTMA officials along the St. Francis, Okpoko bypass section of Owerri Road.
He said the vehicle was subsequently taken to the ARTMA office at Bridge Head, Onitsha, where it was accused of committing a “one-way” offence.
According to Obinna, ARTMA officials demanded a fine of N300,000 before the vehicle could be released.
He, however, appealed to the officials, explaining that the alleged traffic violation was not deliberate but resulted from efforts to avoid deep potholes along the road, particularly around the section opposite Peoples Club on Owerri Road.
“The potholes are so deep that vehicles are forced to swerve to the other side to avoid damaging their cars. That is how we found ourselves on the other lane,” he said.
Obinna said he respected traffic regulations and the work of ARTMA but described the N300,000 fine as excessive, considering the condition of the road.
“We respect the law and the work ARTMA is doing. But it is painful that we are being fined such a huge amount for an offence that was caused by the bad state of the road itself,” he said.
Following his appeal, he said the fine was reviewed downward to N150,000, after which the vehicle was released.
Other commercial drivers and commuters who spoke with our Correspondent said the affected portion of Owerri Road had remained in poor condition for months.
A commercial driver, Mr Chima Nwako, called on the Anambra State Government to urgently repair the road, saying the failed sections were contributing to traffic congestion, accidents and other dangers to road users.
Another driver, Mr Ikegbu, said motorists were increasingly forced to use the opposite lane to escape the craters.
“We are not supporting one-way. But government should first fix that road. Every day ARTMA is there catching people, but the pothole that is causing it is still there,” he said.
The motorists appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration and relevant agencies to urgently intervene and fix the failed portions of the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
They said repairing the road would not only reduce traffic offences but also ease congestion and prevent accidents and damage to vehicles.
But ARTMA’s position is that traffic regulations must be obeyed regardless of the condition of the road.
When contacted, the Managing Director of ARTMA, Mr Konti, said the offence had been committed and the offender should pay the prescribed penalty.
He also warned motorists against driving against traffic, stressing the need for road users to obey traffic regulations.
CULLED FROM: The Razor Newspaper
