Motorists accuse Anambra traffic officials of harassment and fines of up to N300,000

Drivers on the busy Onitsha-Owerri Road say they face a “double tragedy”: dangerous potholes on one side and heavy fines when they move into the opposite lane to avoid them.

Motorists told The Punch that officials of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency, or ARTMA, regularly wait near the worst sections around People’s Club Bus Stop. They allege that the officials stop private cars, taxis, and commercial buses travelling toward Upper Iweka and demand between ₦150,000 and ₦300,000.

A visit to the area found drivers diverting from the Obosi end of the road near People’s Club and using the opposite lane because deep potholes had made the normal route almost impossible. Several drivers, who spoke anonymously for fear of being identified by officers, said the practice occurs daily, particularly during peak hours. They also alleged that officials impound vehicles when drivers refuse to pay.

One taxi driver 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.” The driver said officials sometimes demanded as much as ₦150,000 and targeted commercial buses because they knew the vehicles had to deliver passengers to work and businesses.

The drivers accused ARTMA officials of focusing on enforcement rather than resolving the road damage. They said the potholes were the reason motorists entered the opposite lane, but officials were using the resulting violations to collect money.

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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.