Brave Dickson
Following consistent decline in patronage, commercial drivers in Rivers State have begged Governor Nyesom Wike to lift the night curfew imposed on the state.
The governor had imposed severe night curfew across the 23 local government areas of the state due to insecurity.
The drivers under the aegis of the Urban Drivers Welfare Association, Rivers State Chapter maintained that the patronage they get during the day is not enough to cater for their families.
Speaking with our correspondent, the state Chairman of the Association, Lekia Isaac said things have been tough with them ever since the governor imposed the night curfew.
“We are begging Governor Wike to lift the night curfew imposed on the state because of the economic losses commercial drivers and others are having.
“We know that he (Wike) imposed the curfew in order to tackle insecurity but we think other measures can be used to reduce insecurity without curfew.
“The curfew is really telling on us as a lot of us now find it difficult to pay our bills from our legitimate driving business.
“Drivers who signed vehicles on hire purchase and those who give daily cash returns are beginning to have serious problem with vehicle owners because of not being able to meet expectations.
“More worrisome is the high traffic congestion from 5pm down, due to mass rush by road users to get home before the curfew time.
“Commercial drivers are really bearing the brunt of this curfew and we will be glad if the governor will listen to our plight and lift the curfew,” Isaac said.
