The Federal Government has commenced the evacuation of heavy-duty trucks illegally parked along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in a bid to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety. The enforcement began at the Anambra boundary and swept through the 9th Mile axis to the Enugu metropolis, targeting vehicles that have been obstructing the busy highway and creating hazards for motorists.
Motorists and commuters have long complained about the gridlock caused by trailers and tankers parking on the highway shoulders, especially near the 9th Mile intersection and the Anambra border. The constant traffic snarls have also been linked to accidents and delays in the movement of goods between Enugu and Onitsha, two major commercial hubs.
Coordinated enforcement across the corridor
The operation is being handled by the Federal Ministry of Works in collaboration with security and traffic management agencies. Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Smart Okpi, said the exercise aligns with the Minister of Works’ directive to remove every illegally parked heavy-duty truck on the corridor. The ministry, he noted, had earlier notified stakeholders via press releases and media announcements so that truck operators and market traders would have ample warning.
The joint task team includes:
- The Federal Road Safety Corps, responsible for coordinating traffic flow.
- The Enugu State Transport Management Authority, which supplied towing equipment.
- The Nigeria Police Force, deployed to maintain law and order.
- The Nigerian Army, providing extra security to safeguard the exercise.
Community leaders and business associations from the affected areas also joined the operation, helping to raise awareness and secure cooperation.
High compliance reported as trucks leave the expressway
During the exercise, Mr Okpi said the response so far has been positive. “So far, people have been complying. You can see that the trucks are already leaving the expressway, making it clear and safer for road users,” he said. He reiterated that the operation would be continuous, with ministry officials monitoring the entire corridor to stop trucks from returning to roadside parking.
The controller further explained that community leaders have been mobilised to report any violations, and that offending vehicles would be impounded and moved to the FRSC yard. He, however, identified a potential challenge: limited space for storing impounded trucks if the enforcement is extended. He advised operators to use a nearby private trailer park and space made available by the local government until designated trailer parks are constructed under the next phase of the ongoing expressway project.
Market leaders praise the exercise
Mohamed Idris, Chairman of the Gariki Ugwuobo Cattle Market, praised the government’s decision. He said market authorities had already been sensitising truck drivers, mechanics and traders against roadside parking. “We have been working day and night to ensure that trucks no longer park along the road. Although we do not have a permanent trailer park, we have been using a private facility, which is already overstretched,” he said.
Mr Idris added that drivers who still fail to comply do so at their own risk, and he called on the government to provide additional parking facilities to ease the pressure on existing spaces.
Task force confirms month-long sensitisation
Chimaobi Nwangwu, Chairman of the Ugwuoba Cattle Market Task Force, said his team had received official notification from the ministry a month before enforcement began. “We have been telling them every day that there should be no parking on the road, but some drivers are stubborn. Today’s joint operation involving the police, the army and other agencies has made enforcement much easier,” he said.
Mr Nwangwu expressed confidence that continued enforcement would permanently eliminate traffic congestion on the corridor. The exercise is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to keep the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway safe and free of obstructions for all road users. With federal authorities already planning designated trailer parks for the next phase of the expressway project, the current enforcement aims to restore order in the interim and ensure that truck operators comply with traffic regulations. (NAN)
