PRESS RELEASE
The Katsina State Safety and Road Traffic Authority (KASSAROTA) has convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of motor parks within Katsina metropolis as part of efforts to address the growing challenges of illegal motor parks, overloading, one-way driving, and the covering of vehicle number plates across the state.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Director General of KASSAROTA, Major Garba Yahaya Rimi (Rtd), Tafidan Kauran Katsina, stated that the gathering was prompted by increasing concerns over the proliferation of unregistered motor parks and persistent traffic violations, particularly overloading.
He disclosed that the Katsina State Government has expressed serious concern over the rising trend of illegal motor parks and overloading, especially within Katsina metropolis, stressing that government does not want to see any illegal motor park operating anywhere in the state.
According to him, any motor park that is not duly registered and approved by the government must immediately cease operations and relocate to designated and recognized motor parks.
Major Rimi explained that the meeting was aimed at engaging critical stakeholders to collectively deliberate and develop workable strategies to address the identified challenges.
He further noted that enforcing these measures would significantly enhance security, curb the transportation of illicit drugs, and strengthen safety measures for both passengers and drivers across the state.
In his remarks, the Secretary of KASSAROTA, Aminu Lawal Batsari, described the stakeholders present at the meeting as key partners whose collaboration is vital in supporting government efforts to tackle security challenges associated with motor park operations.
He revealed that the directive followed an order by the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the State, after receiving security reports indicating the potential use of illegal motor parks to perpetrate security threats.
He added that such illegal parks make it difficult for security agencies to effectively track suspected criminals and monitor activities related to drug trafficking.
Aminu Lawal Batsari emphasized the need for collective action and appealed to motor park leaders and drivers’ unions to cooperate fully in ensuring strict compliance with the directive.
He further observed that Katsina State is among the states in Northern Nigeria most affected by the menace of illegal motor parks and called on stakeholders to sensitise their members calmly and responsibly on the closure of such facilities to avoid any breakdown of law and order.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Katsina State chapter, Rilwanu Sulaiman Funtua, commended the initiative, describing it as a welcome development that would benefit genuine operators.
He stated that NARTO does not support illegal motor parks or overloading, noting that both NARTO and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are against such practices.
He assured that members would be duly informed and directed to comply with the government’s order.
Similarly, the representative of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who is also the Secretary of NURTW Kofar Durbi Branch, Salisu Amadu, expressed full support for the move.
He recalled that in the past, motor loading activities were successfully centralized within registered parks and pledged the union’s commitment to supporting the renewed enforcement efforts.
He appealed to the government to ensure strict enforcement of the regulations and urged members of the public residing far from designated parks to cooperate by using approved motor parks for boarding vehicles.
Other stakeholders present at the meeting included the Katsina Area Commander, Assistant Commander of Corps Adamu Aliyu Bakori of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Acting Director of Motor Vehicle Administration of KASSAROTA, Assistant Safety Traffic Commander (ASTC) Isah Lurwanu, among others.
All participants underscored the importance of the meeting in strengthening security architecture and enhancing safety for passengers and drivers throughout Katsina State.
Signed:
Abubakar Marwana Kofar Sauri
Public Relations Officer (PRO)
Katsina State Safety and Road Traffic Authority (KASSAROTA)
Katsina State
