The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, Wednesday, commissioned the upgraded Karu motorpark for inter-city and inter-state travels.
Speaking at the event, Maikalangu said the council will put facilities in place to ensure “one-chance” operators are put out of business as travellers to different states will be redirected to the park, adding that CCTV cameras will also be installed in different parts of the park for security.
Maikalangu, who said the project was executed under a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement with PEDEGS Limited, assured that other motor parks in the council will be upgraded, including Nyanya and Utako.
“Here in this park, you will get a vehicle traveling to Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Bayelsa and other states nationwide. It is safer to make use of this park because if there is any item you forgot in the vehicle, it will be here waiting for you when you come back to look for it. I will also ensure CCTV cameras are installed in different parts of the park. This is to ensure that the area is secured,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the MD/CEO of PEDEGS, Hon. Peter Biye Gumtha, said the project suffered litigations for 12 years as many people didn’t want it to see the light of the day, but that it will serve the best interest of the public with the triumph of the company at the appeal court.
“We suffered in the course of the project, but I am glad it is completed for commissioning. We won at the appeal court during the litigation. Here in the park, we will have an office for AMAC revenue collectors. Therefore, it is designed to international standard. I want the council to continue with PPP. With the arrangement, the council will spend less money and give more to the community,” he said.
Similarly, the FCT Secretary for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Idris Adamu, urged Maikalangu to ensure that facilities in the motorpark are made maximum use of, otherwise it will be a waste of investment.
He said: “I am impressed with what is done here. Only few states have this kind of motorpark. We will use it for what it is meant for. It will serve as security checks. However, I will make a few requests for the chairman to consider. For one, I will like a security post to be here. In some areas, we have metal detectors. Objects for insecurity don’t fly, they go through our roads. So, we need security apparatus to work here.
“Also, getting an edifice like this is one thing, using it is another thing. Many people are not always comfortable with changes. Therefore, we want to prohibit the picking of passengers along the road or anywhere. They must be directed here, otherwise we will miss the point of this edifice. I admit it will take a long time to achieve. Some people who feel they are connected will go out there and start loading. If you arrest them, they will call someone in position of power and be released. Therefore. I want the chairman to ensure that does not happen so that the investment here will not be a waste of time.”
