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Hard times await commuters in Jos

• As Plateau Govt enforces cab regulation

FROM RICHARD NZEMEKE, JOS.

COMMUTERS in Jos metropolis may contend with some shuttle difficulties from this week as Plateau State Government has concluded plans to implement its operation paint your commercial cab, Green- yellow- green colour policy. Though the exercise had been flagged off about a month ago, only a few commercial vehicle operators have complied, ostensibly due to lack of enforcement.

National Daily investigation showed that the programme is also bound to take its toll on socio-economic activities as many residents depend on the commercial vehicles for their daily movements.

It was gathered at the weekend that beginning from Monday, mass arrest of drivers of unpainted commercial vehicles plying the roads. Will be carried out by the vehicle inspection department.
The exercise tails the expiration of the government's ultimatum ordering commercial vehicle owners to either paint the vehicles as directed or withdraw them from the roads.

Many cabs will be withdrawn from the roads, even as a fine of N70,000 awaits defaulters. Meanwhile, less than 50 per cent of the commercial vehicles in the metropolis have been painted the green-yellow-green. While some vehicle owners who have not painted their cars/buses withdrew them from the roads, others took risk to operate, especially late afternoons and evenings.

When the operation "paint your commercial vehicle(s) green-yellow-green or withdraw it from the roads" commenced recently, it caused a lot of hardship for commuters in Jos metropolis, and paralyzed socio-economic activities in the area.

The outcry was unprecedented as commuters were stranded at bus stops, even as the campaign against boarding unpainted cars and buses has been stepped up in the state. Before now, several people had been robbed and murdered by criminal gangs, who pretended to be cab drivers/passengers, National Daily can report authoritatively.
It was gathered that part of the N70,000 fine to vehicle inspection department before securing the release of impounded will be expended by the officers on painting the vehicles in prescribed colours.

In a related development, the state government has retrained drivers on its pay roll. Speaking at the opening session of the three-day drivers improvement workshop in Jos, the state capital, Chief Solomon Zang, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, stated that the training will reduce accidents and prolong the life span of government vehicles. Besides, Zang noted that it would save lives and the vehicles. The importance of retraining the participants periodically cannot be over emphasized, as it will impart positively on their competence, Zang said.