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…It‘s politically-motivated – KASTELEA boss
From: Sola Ojo, Kaduna
In Kaduna, on Monday, many early risers were stranded at their various bus stop following a peaceful protest embarked upon by commercial vehicle drivers over what they described as ‘unhealthy’ extortion and harassment of their members by men of Kaduna State Transport and Environmental Agency (KASTELEA).
Some of them told Daily Sun that once KASTELEA arrested them, they had to cough out between N20,000 and N50,000 which had rendered many of them jobless since they could not afford the charges levied against them over minor offences like ‘wrong’ parking.
Residents of Sabon Tasha, the hub of the protest, were forced to trek kilometers to their destinations, while several others who could not simply retire back home.
Reacting to the development, General Manager of KASTELEA, Col. Abdulkadri Zubair, described the protest as ‘political’, saying the authority of Road Transport Workers in the state have complained about the activities of operatives of the agency, and that talks were already ongoing to resolve the matter.
He added that the law that established KASTELEA and its operations was backed by the state Assembly and could only be reviewed by same.
Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers in Kaduna, Alhassan Haruna said he had directed his men to resume work but been hindered by touts who have hijacked the protest
But as at the time of filing this report, no single KASTELEA staff was on duty as they all had taken cover for their dear live while nothing serious is being done to put the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the shutdown only affected the city major road like Kawo, Ahmadu Bello, Central Market, Kachia and Sabon Tasha roads where most of the commercial vehicles ply.
