From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

As a result of the directive issued by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Transport that all motor parks operating within Yenagoa and its environs must relocate to the newly built state’s transport terminal at Igbogene in Yenagoa, commuters traveling from Bayelsa State to other parts of the country are lamenting the ordeal they are passing through before getting to their respective destinations, particularly during this festive season.

According to different commuters that spoke to newsmen at various motor parks within Yenagoa and its metropolis, they expressed their dismay and outright anger over the insensitivity on the part of the state Ministry of Transport on their plight.

Douye Wikimor, one of the commuters noted that the enforcement of the directive by stern looking security operatives at the motor park at the popular Tombia roundabout in the heart of Yenagoa is a misplaced priority and a complete miscalculation on the part of the state Ministry of Transport, adding that other commuters like himself will have to pay double transportation fare before arriving at their destinations.

He however urged the state government and other relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector to have a re-think and consider the stress and pain the gazetted transport unions and commuters will bear as a result of the sudden and forceful relocation.

The President of the Federal University, Otuoke Students Union, Comrade Azubike Ekene said the relocation will cause a lot of inconvenience and pain to the students of not only the university but also that of Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

According to the Student Union President, the policy is not bad, especially when viewed against the backdrop of sanitizing and decongesting the motor parks within Yenagoa and its environs but the execution of the policy is ill timed as the planners did not take into consideration the plight of students in the state, stressing that the students union body will embark on a peaceful protest if the relocation policy is not reconsidered.

In the same vein, another commuter, Tekena Kio equally condemned the relocation and centralization policy by the state government, emphasizing that the policy will negatively affect the gazetted transport unions in the state, commuters and small and medium scale businesses operating within and around the various motor parks.

Also speaking, another commuter who appears visible angry about the action of the state government also reiterated on the need for the Ministry of Transport to have a re-think on the situation as commuters are passing through a lot of pains and agony because they have to go to the Transport Terminal at Igbogene before proceeding on their journey.

The secretary of RTEAN, Comrade Anengima Jonah equally bemoaned the policy as the terminal is not built for transport unions vehicles but for executive and government owned transportation schemes, noting that the policy will kill private businesses around the various motor parks.

He stressed that the gazetted transport unions have succeeded in mopping out large numbers of unemployed youths across the state, urging the state government to have a solid discussion with the union members before going further with the enforcement order as that is the surest way to resolve the lingering issue.

Igbogene Transport Terminal is about 15 kilometers away from the city center.