By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Traders along Abacha Street in Freetown’s Central Business District have expressed their delight and support at the recent action by the Government through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to stop vehicles and push carts from parking or accessing the street within a stipulated time frame, effective midnight 28th January, 2024.
Nancy Thomas, a trader welcomed the news to stop transport vehicles more so heavy trucks from plying that route considering how congested the place has been.
She said since vehicles have been using the street as a parking lot and those with push carts not having any regard for pedestrians, it is good that restrictions of such nature are enforced.
She also said that accidents have been happening at Abacha Street on a disturbing rate, a situation compounded by the congestion and the presence of stationary vehicles as well as the reluctance of some traders to push behind the perimeter rails erected. She recalled an accident last December in which a woman, who was initially trapped under a sea cargo- container truck and subsequently died, could have made her way out, had it not been for the crammed up nature of the place.
Thomas called on the government to ensure that they place monitors along the street so that the new law remains intact and for it not to be violated.
Mariama Sankoh is another trader who welcomed the news of stopping commercial vehicles plying Abacha Street during the day, saying accidents will be minimized. She advised colleague traders not to misuse the order by scattering their wares all over the street.
Another trader Alice Kainessie noted that they’ve always been fearful of the likelihood of falling container-carrying trucks whilst trading during the day.
She mentioned how container trucks were restricted from using the street during the day, sometime ago, but said it was short-lived. She stated that she will have to wait and see if such a law of stopping commercial vehicles from plying the route during the day will not be violated again by drivers.
She was also cautious about the move, saying it could be a ploy by government to get them off Abacha Street. She advised colleague traders not to be delighted about such development for now.
However, the notice issued by the Government through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation informed the public that effective midnight of Saturday 28th January 2024, Sani Abacha Street will be a no parking street or no access for any vehicle or push cart (ormolankaay) including public transport vehicles with the exception for Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority (SLPTA) licensed operators during the hours of 6am to 10pm.
It advised that loading and offloading by trucks will only be permissible during the hours of 10pm to 5am. SLPTA will start operating its new buses to ease transportation, and Abacha Street is one of the corridors through which they will pass.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (24/01/24)
