Tipper drivers on Monday blocked the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway in Onitsha in protest against alleged imposition of a body known as Anambra State Tippers Association (ASTA) on them.
The drivers, under the umbrella of Great Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria Anambra state branch accused the state ministry of transport of being behind the imposition.
The protest, which started at about 8.30 am, disrupted both vehicular and human movements compelling commuters to trek long distances to get to their destination.
Motorists entering and exiting the state from neighboring states like Delta, Imo, Abia, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom were trapped in the traffic for several hours, while thousands of vehicles were seen parked at both sides of the dual carriage of the highway.
Effort by security agencies to force the tipper drives to vacate the road were unsuccessful as most of the drivers were nowhere to be seen.
Addressing newsmen, vice chairman of Great Tipper Drivers Association Nigeria Anambra state branch Mr Boniface Udenwa posited that the protest was against the imposition and inauguration of strangers on them by the Commissioner of Transport, Hon. Afam Mbanefo.
Udenwa explained that they had warned the commissioner of the implications of his actions during their meetings before the inaugration of the state’s new tipper drivers Association which its executives according to him were not known to them, as they were only contractors who are neither tipper owners nor drivers, and declared they would only vacate the roads when addressed by the commissioner himself.
Boniface lamented how last Friday, some of the new state executives came with a ticket called Anambra State Tippers Association, ASTA, Welfare Ticket of N500; forcing tipper drivers to buy it on every trip of sand they carry, to which he insists is outrageous as they presently pay N700 and other levies daily to state government.
He also revealed that some Tipper Drivers are presently hospitalised as a result of the beating they received from the ASTA agents who invaded sand pits demanding they purchase the new ticket and whoever declined was beaten to a pulp which included members of Sand Miners Association .
On his part, president general of Sand Miners Association of Anambra state Sir Chris Mbaezue expressed shock over the invasion of ASTA on their pits. Noting that ASTA has sealed all the sand beaches in the state which is targeted at intimidating for no known course since Friday, and called on the state government to as a matter of urgency wade in on the crisis before it gets out of hand.
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