By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has instructed motorists, as well as private and public park owners, to open their parks every Monday or face penalties. "Transport is the backbone of every economy. As the movement of goods and people, it is vital because society cannot function without it. To operate in this state, you must operate on Mondays, and failing to do so will not only impact the parks but also individual transporters or owners. They will be barred from operating in their parks for the rest of the week, and a fine will be paid.
"If you want to operate here, you must be open on Monday; otherwise, you have two options: close your park permanently or pay a hefty fine and be allowed to operate again. If your park is sealed, we will pursue legal action, and it will only be unsealed once the case concludes in court".
This statement was made by the Governor during a meeting with leaders and owners of major parks in the state at the Amphitheatre at the Anambra State Light House in Awka today, May 22.
He said that a code of conduct will be provided to regulate their activities in the state. "Every park must have a framework and minimum standards. You need to keep a register of motorists operating in your parks, and we will start the process to modernise our parks, including improvements in facilities, parking, environment, waste management, security, conveniences, and overall operations, to ensure maximum convenience for commuters.
Governor Soludo urged them to consistently keep their parks open on Mondays and to promote awareness, as doing so will attract more passengers. "You can't claim there are no passengers on Mondays when your park is closed. Operating every Monday will help attract more passengers".
Meanwhile, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, explained that if the governor designates a motor park as a site of significant economic or security interest, it gains special attention. Under the law, any motor park closing on a Monday due to an illegal sit-at-home order may commit an offence punishable by three years imprisonment or a N20million fine.
He added that if the governor suspects a park is closed on a Monday, they can order its sealing or closure. Entering such parks forcibly is an offence punishable by three years in prison or a fine or both. "This law also requires park management to register all operators and conduct inspections to ensure they are present and working on Mondays or relevant days. The local government mayor must request the register, which must be submitted within seven days.
Ukwuoma Vincent of Goodness and Mercy Mass Transit commended the governor. He remarked that many parks operate on Mondays but face challenges in attracting passengers from other states.
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