As part of efforts to regulate the tipper industry, the Anambra State Tipper Association (ATA) has said that it would collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the State Ministry of Transport and other relevant agencies and parastatals of government to ensure it becomes a reality.
This was disclosed by Prince Augustine Akaigwe, the President-General of the association during an interview with pressmen at the association’s secretariat Nawfia in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state.
Akaigwe stressed that the partnership was necessary to enable the association install sanity and order in the tipper industry in order to correct some flawed impressions and labels about tipper drivers and their operations in the state.
He said that the association was dogged to check all anomalies and unruliness amongst tipper drivers particularly as it concerns irresponsible driving, drug-intake and ceaseless accidents on Anambra roads.
Akaigwe asserted that with the association in place, the menace of tipper drivers would drastically reduce; more so, they would also ensure that speed limit devices are installed in the tippers to curb over-speeding.
He also revealed that all the tippers operating in Anambra state would henceforth have emergency numbers inscribed on them so the public can reach the leadership of the association in the event of wrong driving and recklessness on the part of the driver.
His words: “All these irregularities and indiscipline in the tipper industry will come to a stop within the shortest time because it has been very porous due to so many associations in the tipper industry. But now the government has intervened and set up an umbrella body.”
“This umbrella body is going to take over all the activities of tipper operators in Anambra state. We have to stop over-loading. Every tipper must carry its normal turn-age. All this reckless driving amongst tipper drivers will have to stop. All this series of accidents here and there in Anambra state caused by tipper drivers will have to stop.”
“Speed limit devices will be installed on every tipper in Anambra state. Every tipper in Anambra state must carry its identification number so that in case you drive carelessly the public can call the number for immediate action and every tipper must cover the goods it is carrying. It must not be seen.”
Furthermore, he stated that most fatalities on the roads were as a result of the different types of hard substances and illicit drugs taken by tipper drivers. Thus, he stressed that tipper drivers must be made to respect the roads since they are not the only ones using the roads. To him, most accidents on the roads are caused by tipper drivers.
Akaigwe noted that there would be series of sensitization programmes for tipper drivers so as to make them friendlier and accommodate other road users. To this end, he warned that any tipper driver who disobeyed the rules and regulations of the association would be decisively dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.
InlandTown! 2020
