Onitsha Bridge gridlock: Motorists appeal to Governor Soludo to flush-out security operatives, touts

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has been called upon to use his executive power to bring sanity to the gridlock infested Onitsha Bridge.

Some motorists plying the bridge expressed anger and frustration due to the return of traffic gridlock on the bridge inspite of the construction and opening of the Second Niger Bridge early this year which has diverted substantially all the traffics that are not going into Onitsha.

But unfortunately, said Nosa Omorege,who drives Hiarce bus from Benin to Onitsha that it appears the Second Niger Bridge does not have positive impact because of the activities of security operatives, mainly the Nigerian Police and Road Safety Personnel who even suppose to free the bridge of gridlock and touts.

He said these touts load from the tip of the bridge up to the bridge proper,,thereby constituting hindrance to free vehicular movements on the bridge.
The driver also lamented that that activities of police and Road Safety who use the place as an extortion point cause traffic. holds up on the bridge.

They called on the Governor to prevail on the leadership of these security outfits to relocate their men from immediately after the bridge where their extortion activities constitute hindrance to vehicular movement on the bridge to a more spacious place where their activities would not cause traffic gridlock.
The motorists also called for immediate flushing out of touts at the place, saying that touts, genuine and fakes abound at the place, causing hardship for commuters and drivers.

They lauded those that did palliative work at one side of the Bridgehead but said they should complete the job on the other side of the road to allow for ease movement of vehicles on the bridge.
They lamented the existence of the gridlock on the bridge now, saying that during Christmas period when people would come into Onitsha to carry out massive purchases,they would sleep on the bridge for days because of traffic situation.