By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) has once again demonstrated its commitment to road safety and traffic efficiency with the swift removal of a heavily loaded container abandoned on a vandalized truck along the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway.
The dangerous obstruction, which was left on the speed lane around Building Materials Junction, Ogidi, had posed a serious threat to motorists and other road users, particularly during nighttime hours. Reports have it that the abandoned container, whose owner remains unknown, had already caused multiple accidents, with casualties recorded before ARTMA’s intervention.
However, acting promptly upon receiving the alert, ARTMA operatives were deployed to the scene, where they successfully removed the container and cleared the affected portion of the expressway. Consequently, the operation and clearance by ARTMA was said to have immediately restored free flow of traffic and eliminated the imminent danger to lives and property along the busy corridor.
Confirming this in a release issued to newsmen on Thursday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ARTMA, Engr. Emeka Okonkwo (Konti Komplete), explained that the swift response was carried out strictly in the interest of public safety, accident prevention and the need to keep major highways in Anambra State free from avoidable obstructions.
Reacting further to the incident, the ARTMA Boss issued a strong warning to truck drivers, hauliers and riders operating within the state, cautioning them against the habit of abandoning broken-down or vandalized vehicles on speed lanes and highways.
Engr. Konti stressed that such actions are not only illegal but also deadly, noting that defaulters will henceforth face strict enforcement and appropriate sanctions in line with existing traffic regulations.
It emphasized that highways and speed lanes are not parking areas and warned that such negligence by drivers often leads to preventable crashes, loss of lives and destruction of property.
The ARTMA helmsman also reiterated its resolve to sustain proactive monitoring, rapid response and enforcement across major roads in Anambra State, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce road traffic accidents and ensure smooth vehicular movement, most especially in this festive seasons and beyond.
Concluding, Engr. Konti further reminded motorists that road safety is a shared responsibility, urging all road users to obey traffic rules, exercise caution and promptly report hazardous situations that could endanger lives.
While pledging such continuous vigilance and timely interventions as this, the ARTMA Leadership further re-assured Ndi Anambra of safer roads and a traffic system that prioritizes human lives above all else.
