Mass transit operators, on Saturday, resumed normal operations, in Ebonyi State following the prompt intervention by Governor David Umahi. This development came after an agreement was reached by the leadership of the Association of Mass Transit Operators in a closed-door meeting with the Governor, on Friday, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The issue began after an alleged failure by the transporters to relocate to a central park designated for them, the state government had sealed all their parks. The development pitched the transport companies, against the state government and caused them to withdraw their services.

The Commissioner for Capital City Development, Onyekachi Nwebonyi and his counterpart for Parks and Market Development, Eze Nwachukwu, alongside the National President of the AMTON, Gregory Inyaba, briefed newsmen at the end of the closed-door meeting.

Nwebonyi explained that the State government, after reviewing the face-off, decided to extend by one month, the time for the relocation of all Mass transit parks to the new government designated location.

Nwebonyi said, “The issues regarding the relocation of the motorists to the new general park, have all been resolved, in the sense that both the government and the motorists are now on the same page. We listened to some of the challenges that are actually hindering the relocation, but as I speak to you, we have laid to rest all those challenges.

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And as government, we have also listened to their problems, and in doing so, we have extended the date for the relocation from 30th of September to 1st of November, 2021. That is almost a month time, to enable them to put in place some infrastructures at the new park to enable their businesses to flourish.”

The AMTON National President, Inyaba, who corroborated Nwebobyi’s explanation, added that he would meet with his members to enable them to go back to their various depots to continue their businesses while both sides work towards getting the new site ready within the stipulated period.

According to him, the Governor had agreed to provide security, fencing and internal roads in the new site while they develop their structures.

Inyaba said, “We have agreed with him that by the grace of God, we will go back to our various depots where we were operating before now, while we will go to the new site and start developing the place, which he gave us one month to build. So, we believe, and from this moment, we will start operation. There is no need to keep holding our people. ”