March 18, (THEWILL) — The Commissioner for Transportation has faulted reports alleging discrepancies in the digital capturing fee and painting charges for commercial vehicles operating within the state, insisting that the directive of the state government and the decisions reached at a transport stakeholders’ meeting remain unchanged.
Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo made the clarification while speaking with newsmen in his office following conflicting reports circulating on the internet.
Okoronkwo explained that the directive emanated from the state government and was communicated to all stakeholders in the transportation sector during a meeting held in November.
He maintained that the fee structure has not been altered and emphasised that payments will be made directly into the government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), stressing that there will be no exceptions.
“This directive is from the state government, and our duty is to give the drivers the necessary orientation, which we did when we summoned stakeholders for a meeting. We informed the stakeholders during the gathering that for the sake of the safety of the people, all commercial vehicles will henceforth be registered and captured in the state’s database and painted in the state’s official colours of blue and white”, he said.
According to the commissioner, the process fee for each commercial minibus is pasted at the venue of the registration, and all transactions will be made through transfer to TSA as no cash deposit is accepted. However, vehicles that have previously been painted in the state colours will only have to pay a reduced fee for data capturing only.
“So anybody saying otherwise or spreading alternative rumours are agents of deceit and falsehood and should be disregarded. The exercise, which started on November 18, 2005, is still in progress, and all commercial buses, including franchise buses, are directed to ensure strict compliance”, he added.
Okoronkwo further stated that the exercise is in line with the provisions of Law No. 3 of 2007, which mandates that all transit commercial buses operating within the state must be duly registered with the Ministry of Transport.
“This exercise is in line with the provisions of Law No. 3 of 2007, which states that all transit commercial buses operating in the state must be registered with the Ministry of Transport and their commercial buses painted in line with the state’s official colours (blue and white). This is done to strengthen the resolve of the state government to enhance the safety and security of passengers in the wake of rampant kidnapping and organ harvesting prowling the country. Therefore, the ministry has commenced the registration, revalidation, painting, fitting, and routing of all commercial minibuses operating in the state”, Okoronkwo explained.
When asked about the registration process, the commissioner directed operators to register at Imo Digital City Limited (IDCL), located at the former premises of ICAPS on Egbu Road.
“To register, they should go to Imo Digital City Limited, located at the former premises of ICAPS at Egbu Road, for capture, revalidation, painting, fleeting and routing. The ministry does not handle the registration; we only sensitise them. Law enforcement agencies and the enforcement unit of the ministry ensure compliance on behalf of the ministry. So anybody spreading falsehood is trying to evade the registration, which is an offence against the state. The fees will be paid directly into the TSA, and IDCL will issue a receipt, which will be presented to enable the capture”, he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that over 4,000 vehicles have been captured. According to him, security agencies have been mandated to impound any commercial vehicle that fails to comply with the registration and painting requirements
