Anambra govt. moves to turn Asaba Motor Park to garden park, NEMA supports move

Anambra Government on Saturday expressed its intention to shut down Asaba Motor Park at Upper
Iweka and turn it to what it called a garden park.
The Asaba Motor Park, located along Onitsha-Enugu road, was the scene of a petrol tanker accident where 69 people were burnt to death and 50 persons sustained injuries on May 31.
Chief Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra Emergency Management Agency, accompanied by policemen was sighted ordering motorists out of the area.
Odenigbo told newsmen that the park was originally designed as a garden park and not a motor park.
“Asaba Motor Park is illegal from the state government and rational stand-point,’’ he said.
However, it is clear that articulated vehicles had defied the order of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra which outlawed their operations in all the Federal and State roads during day time.
An investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that drivers of articulated vehicles are still plying all the routes with impunity during the day time in Onitsha.
Sources close to Onitsha Iron Rod/Steel Drivers Association told NAN that the union was ready to go any length in making sure that their rights of existence are not tampered with by the Anambra government.
They said that they were ready for peaceful negotiation with the government on the best way out of the situation.
Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Major James Eze equally had the same view when he called for closure of the park for motorists and revert it to its initial garden park.
This he said is to avert future occurrence.