Crackdown on activities of touts: Abak Transition Chairman sacks illegal Motor Parks as “one chance operators” run for cover

...The Council’s action is a breach of contract -  Management of Ekemini Motor Park

Emmanuel Udosen

Last Friday, Ekemini Motor Park along Ikot Abasi road in Abak was sealed on the order of the Transition Committee Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Udosen for alleged illegal operation. Speaking with our reporter on phone shortly after the motor pack had been locked, the chairman said it was part of the committee’s commitment to sanitize the transport sub-sector and bring orderliness to Abak township which hitherto had been untidy; stressing that the illegal tricycle (Keke) park near the Post Office and the one near the flanks of Bishop Clark’s Primary School, along Ikot Ekpene road would be shown the way out of illegality this week. Dr. Udosen explained that the three motor parks had since been intimated in writing to move to Abak main Motor Park for easy management and control, adding that it was at the expiration of the written order that the council struck.

The Transition Chairman further explained that Ekemini Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Motor park constitutes security risk and nuisance to the council headquarters, especially when insecurity is grave national concern, just as it possessed a bad social influence on the nearly Government Technical College, Abak as motor parks are a haven of ruffians.
According to the Chairman, the management of Ekemini Motor Park has blatantly violated the agreement entered into by the immediate past administration; that it would neither deface not encroach on the council’s property, that it would not constitute a nuisance to the council and three, that the N120,000 per annum tax was paltry compared to  the cash that the motor park management milked from the lucrative but illegal business.
The Transition Chairman promised to wield a big stick on residents who violate sanitation rules and to appoint inspection/revenue committees to impose order on Abak market where touts have exploited traders turned it to a goldmine.
Investigation by THE INK reveals that the land used for the transport business was outrightly sold to Ekemini Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society by Joseph Ikpaisong Inyang administration when the Chairman was on alleged rampage of selling government land and property. A member of the cooperative members that spoke with our reporter but craved anonymity said efforts are afoot by Dr. Udosen-led government to revoke the sales by the immediate past local administration as due process was thrown to the winds. For those who acquired government’s land under the former Chairman, a Pharaoh who does not recognize Joseph has come, Abak resident told the paper. This is even as there is deep concern as to whether the main motor park can accommodate a large number of Keke, taxis and buses used by the commercial operators.
Reacting to the crackdown by the Local Government, the Management staff of the motorpack, Mr. Effiong Udoh said the action of the government was a breach of contract as the management of Ekemini Motor Park has not violated the terms of agreement it entered into with the Council, adding that legal fireworks has been prepared for the challenge.