Motorists decry Anambra agency harassment, N300,000 fines on road

Motorists plying the ever-busy Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra State have decried incessant harassment and imposition of “unjustifiable” fines by officials of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency, especially at the bad portions of the road near the People’s Club Bus Stop.

Some of the motorists, who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews on Saturday, alleged that ARTMA officials were using the deplorable condition of the road to extort various amounts of money, ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦300,000, from private motorists, taxi and commercial bus drivers plying the highway to the popular Upper Iweka end of the road.

The drivers lamented that the deep and dangerous potholes on the road, particularly near the People’s Club Bus Stop, were forcing them to drive in the opposite lane, thereby subjecting them to heavy fines and alleged extortion by traffic officials, a situation they described as a “double tragedy”.

Our correspondent, who was at the scene, observed that motorists travelling from the Obosi end of the Onitsha-Owerri Road towards Upper Iweka diverted near the People’s Club, where they connected to the opposite lane in order to continue their journey.

It was also observed that many drivers heading towards Upper Iweka had to divert to the opposite lane when they reached the People’s Club axis to avoid the deep potholes, which had made driving almost impossible along that stretch.

Most of the drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being identified by the officers said the traffic officials always hid at a corner of the road near the bad portions on a daily basis, especially during peak hours, where they waited for drivers plying “one way” and demanded various amounts of money. In some cases, they allegedly impounded vehicles when drivers failed to pay.

They accused the ARTMA officials of focusing only on enforcement and fines rather than addressing the road conditions which, according to them, were forcing them into the opposite lane.

One of the taxi drivers said, “They always jump out from a corner of the road and stop you. If you don’t pay the money they demand, they will delay you or threaten to impound your vehicle. This has become a daily routine. Sometimes, they ask you to pay as much as ₦150,000.

“It is worse for commercial buses going to Upper Iweka. They target us because they know we must take passengers to their various places of work and businesses. And they do this during peak hours. They have no conscience, especially considering that it is deep and dangerous potholes that have resulted in vehicles plying the opposite lane.

“They are not interested in finding a solution to the big dangerous potholes and bad roads along the Onitsha-Owerri Road, they are only interested in using it to cash in on the motorists.”

One of the victims, who also spoke to our correspondent and identified himself simply as “Mr Obinna”, lamented what he described as a “double tragedy” of navigating deep potholes and facing heavy fines from traffic enforcement officers.

Obinna, a commercial bus owner, narrated how his vehicle was intercepted along the St Francis Okpoko bypass of the Onitsha-Owerri Road by ARTMA operatives and taken to the agency’s office at Bridge Head, Onitsha.

He said, “They accused me of driving against traffic, a ‘One-Way’ offence and I was fined ₦300,000. I cried out to them, saying the diversion to the opposite lane was not deliberate, that it was due to the deep and dangerous potholes near the People’s Club Bus Stop which swallow vehicles.

“The potholes are so deep that drivers are forced to divert to the other lane in order to avoid damaging their cars. That was how I found myself on the opposing lane. The ARTMA officials impounded my vehicle and at their office, they demanded a fine of ₦300,000 before the vehicle could be released.

“Following an appeal to the leadership of the agency, the fine was later reviewed downward to ₦150,000, which I paid before my vehicle was released.

“We respect the law and the work ARTMA is doing. But it is painful that we are being fined such a huge amount for an offence that is caused by the poor condition of the road itself.”

He, however, appealed to the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and other relevant agencies to urgently repair the failed portions of the Onitsha-Owerri Road to prevent accidents and avoidable arrests.

Another commercial driver plying the road, who identified himself as Chima Nwako, called for urgent action to repair the road in order to avoid “one-way” driving, reduce traffic congestion and prevent accidents associated with the bad roads.

Another motorist, Mr I. Ikegbu, said the Onitsha-Owerri Road had been in a bad state for months, forcing many motorists to take the opposite lane to avoid the craters.

“We are not supporting ‘one-way’. But government should first fix that road. Every day ARTMA officials will be there impounding vehicles and collecting heavy fines, but the dangerous potholes that are causing the ‘one-way’ are left unattended to,” Ikegbu added.

When contacted, the Managing Director of ARTMA, Emeka Okonkwo, insisted that any motorist who committed the violation should pay the fine imposed, warning drivers to avoid one-way offences.

However, when asked further about the reason for imposing a ₦300,000 fine, Okonkwo did not respond.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had in 2025 announced that, starting from October 14, 2025, the maximum fine payable for any traffic offence in the state would be ₦10,000, regardless of the nature of the offence.

Soludo stated that the move was necessary as a significant policy change aimed at easing the financial burden on motorists in Anambra State.

According to a press statement issued by Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor announced this during a town hall meeting with transport stakeholders at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha.

He said, “Starting from October 14, 2025, the maximum fine payable for any traffic offence in the state will be ₦10,000, regardless of the nature of the offence. The policy is designed to alleviate the economic strain on our people, particularly in a time when many are grappling with rising costs.

“Among other plans for transporters and road users, is the importance of balancing law enforcement with compassion for the everyday challenges faced by drivers and citizens alike.

“We are partners in progress. We will set a special task force and enforcement against illegal tax collectors. Anybody that collects cash should remit it to the government coffers.”

The governor further promised that the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency would work to designate proper bus stops with proper markings.