Taxi drivers in the capital city of Rivers State, Port Harcourt, have called on the Rivers State Government through the ministry of transport, to extend the deadline given to them to paint their vehicles to the blue and white colours of the state.
It will be recalled that last week in an interview with TPCN, the Rivers State Commissioner for Transport revealed that the timeline given to taxi drivers had elapsed and that a compliance team has been dispatched from the ministry to ensure that commercial vehicle operators in the state abide by the new rule.
He further said that the new directive was important for Port Harcourt residents as a mark of identification which is given during enumeration as data of all commercial vehicles operator will be taken and would help a passenger to report theft, robbery or be able to recover misplaced items.
TPCN Correspondent John Diidi today was on the field to get the opinions of commercial vehicle operators in the state.
For Mr Friday, who plies the Rumuola to Mile one park route, he lamented the poor economic situation of the country adding that there was no way he is going to raise money to repaint his vehicle at this time.
“Things are very difficult now. To repaint this taxi will cost me between #30,000 – #45,000.
“After buying fuel and maintaining the car, I barely make #20,000 a month. So how then can I do it?.
“I want to beg the Rivers State Government to give us (taxi drivers) more time, till like December so that I can run around and get money to repaint the car why I sustain myself and my family”.
Another driver who identified himself as Ezekiel told TPCN that repainting of their vehicles is bad for business as there are certain places they cannot enter with their vehicles.
“I am not happy with this new directive. Repainting our vehicles is bad for business because people will no longer like to chatter our vehicle.
“With an unpainted vehicle, I can comfortably go on chatter to neighbouring places like Aba, Bayelsa and Owerri and make cool money.
“But if I paint my taxi with the Rivers colours, I cannot enter these places as my car would get seized and would have to pay as much as #50,000 to bail it.
“Also in this Port Harcourt, we cannot enter certain places with a painted taxi. We can’t carry ‘a drop’ to the state Secretariat, banks, the Airport and most hotels.
“So if we repaint these vehicles, it’s going to affect our business badly. So I’m begging the Government to reconsider their stance.
Commuters who spoke to TPCN commended the new directive by the State Government, as it will help curb criminality in the state by making commercial vehicles easier to identify in case of any kidnapping, robbery and misplacement of items.
It’s now left to be seen, whether the state Government will heed to the demands of the commercial vehicle operators, who also plan on engaging in a peaceful demonstration to press home their demands.
