In line with the new guidelines from the Federal Government on inter-states movement , the Akwa Ibom State Government has stressed the need for all the respective motor parks in the state to provide workable passengers manifest system.
The Commissioner for Transport and Solid Minerals, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Uno Etim Uno, who stated this during an interface with critical stakeholders, including leaders of respective unions, parks management and the representatives of Rago Engineering and Environmental Services Limited, stressed that the Passengers Manifest was part of measures to cushion the effect of COVID19 pandemic in the transport sector in line with the global standard.
He said the Ministry has received a propsal from an Abuja-based company, Rago Engineering and Environmental Services Limited to provide the passengers manifest services in the State, and commended the Managing Director of the company, Engr. Godwin Jack Udom and other representative, Engr. Okon James for initiative.
The Commissioner for Transport and Solid Minerals, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Uno Etim Uno who was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Otuekong Nse Edem, and flagged by the Director of Land Transport, Engr. Joseph Akpan Ebong; the Director of Solid Minerals, Mrs. Emem Ibokette and the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Rev. Abia, explained that there is need for introduction of a workable electronic manifest system in the State Transport Sector.
He said it is very imperative for all the government owned and private parks and every commercial vehicle to ensure compliance by loading from the parks and obtain their Passengers Manifest in line with the Federal Government Directives.
He frowned at the park management Committee for not reporting on time to their duty post, stressing that the Committee members were found absence when the Ministry embarked on tours to the respective motor parks to monitor the level of compliance with the COVID19 pandemic guidelines from the Federal Government, National Center for decease Control, the World Health Organization and other medical experts to stay safe.
The Ministry of Transport and Solid Minerals boss who stressed the need for all the transporters to observe the lay-down precautionary and protective measures of the Corona Virus pandemic, maintained that COVID19 is real.
He however appreciated the stakeholders for coming out en-mass to the meeting despite the short notice, assuring that the current leadership of the Ministry is balanced to change the narratives and put things right to strengthen the Akwa Ibom State transport sector for maximum productivity.
Speaking further, the Commissioner who said there are over 30 private parks called on the Chairman of the Parks Management Committee to compile the names of all the transport companies operating at Itam Long Distance Park and forward same to the Ministry.
The Managing Director of Rago Engineering and Environmental Service Limited, Eng. Godwin Udom while making a presentation to the stakeholders hinted that their company has a formidable mechanism in place to provide the passengers Manifest and insurance in the parks across the State.
Engr. Udom said there is a paradigm shift in the transport sector considering the Corona Virus pandemic, stressing the need for collaboration with the company, Government and stakeholders to provide electronic passengers manifest system to commercial vehicles in the State.
He said “the Federal Government has lifted the ban for interstates traveling with emphasis on passengers manifest and all the precautionary measures to cushion the effect of COVID19 pandemic. There is a lot that need to be done to meet up with the government directives. The Ministry of Transport and Solid Minerals has a pivoting role to play with all the stakeholders to making manifest which is for the issuance of the passengers to be functional”.
He emphasized the imperatives for all stakeholders to come together and create an oasis where a workable master plan for effective enforcement of the passengers manifest is put in place, describing the stakeholders as critical partners in progress.
In his reaction, the Chairman of Park Management Committee in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Emem lamented that various companies like G Consult, Energy insurance amongst others have failed to meet up to their expectations in the past.
He however expressed the optimism that with adequate consultation and processes in collaboration with the government, stakeholders and the company, the use of passengers manifest will be achieved in the parks across the State having taken the interest of all the stakeholders into cognizant.
On their parts, the Director of Land Transport in the Ministry, Engr. Joseph Akpan Ebong and the Director of Solid Minerals, Mrs. Emem Ibokette, said the efforts of Government in ensuring the use of passengers manifest was jeopardized by stakeholders who were not interested in selling the manifest, explaining that thousands of copies of the manifest that were printed were wasted and thrown into dustbins.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Transport Council, Hon. Maurice Edet, the State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Obong Uwem Inyang, and the State Acting Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Comrade Godwin Edem have promised to support the government by making sure that they adhere to the directives and guidelines from the government for effective sales of passengers manifest in all the motor parks in the State.
They therefore added that there is need for the manifest service providing company to seat on a round table and discuss terms and conditions of the entire process for a robust and rewarding success.
Also in the meeting which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Transport and Solid Minerals, located at Ewet Housing Estate Uyo, were critical stakeholders in the transport sector including the State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Obong Uwem Inyang and his counterpart from Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Comrade Godwin Edem; the Director General of Akwa Ibom State Transport Council, Hon. Maurice Edet; the Chairman of Park Management Committee, Obong Emem among other critical stakeholders.
