- Says DTSG To Construct CNG Station In Asaba Soon
Mr. Onoriode Agofure, a vibrant and young politician is the Delta State Commissioner for Transport. In this interview with ANDY AKENI and MOSES ETU, he spoke on sundry issues, including the mandate of the ministry, challenges, introduction of the QR Code for Keke riders, the MORE Agenda, 2027 elections and many more. Excerpts…
Can we meet you?
I’m Onoriode Agofure, the Honorable Commissioner for Transport, Delta State.
The Transport Ministry is a vital ministry in every society in the sense that the ministry deals with people every day. Are there challenges?
Of course, we have some challenges that we are facing but it doesn’t mean that the challenges are not insurmountable.
The policies that we have, people don’t like change, naturally. Even if the change is for their own good, people will still go against it. They are used to a particular way of doing things so they don’t like change.
So, when there are policies that are meant to make the environment cleaner or to make the society better, they tend to resist. They always try to resist change. But that doesn’t mean that they do that most of the times. We have been tackling such problems through awareness, a lot of publicity, sensitization, which is very important and a lot of stakeholders’ engagements. So, I think this should be one of the major challenges we have. Nothing more than that.
What are those new things you are doing which sounds strange to them?
For example now, this profiling, because I know we’re going to go there, so, let’s talk about that. Let’s just talk about it now.
In civilized climes, you can’t work without data. Data helps you plan. Data informs your decisions. Data informs your policies. Data informs your strategy. So, I’ve noticed that we don’t have a robust database in the system. So, that’s why I introduce this profiling, which is bringing alot of credit to the state. So that’s one of the policies that a lot of them are trying to resist. And there was sorts of communication gap in the sense that the agreement we had with the consultant was to sell those items cheaply for N7500. It was even, to be honest with you, it was even subsidized. A lot of them will tell you there is no money, I don’t have the money, I don’t have the money but we must do it because technology is very very important. Technology is very important and is also very expensive. So, that’s one of the challenges that we’re facing.
You talked of technology just now. Are the technologies in place to really drive this process?
Of course, yes.
We do have the technology. The QR code sticker for example, once the data of the riders is programmed, you can have all the information at your disposal. The QR code is also on the aprons that they wear. If you take this phone and you scan the QR code, the information of the rider comes up immediately. That’s the main aim of that policy in the sense that it’s enhance security. It’s not something that I’m supposed to discuss here because it’s a security issue. We’ll get a lot of security reports about Keke riders kidnapping people, robbing people, maiming people, injuring people, killing people.
So, that is what informed the introduction of the technology and that’s what drove our decision to profile these people. It’s not because of the revenue. Revenue is just the consequence of this activity. The main aim is not revenue actually, but security.
But they seem to be complaining of multiple taxes?
No, no, no. Like what I said, the agreements we had with the consultants and the union that is driving the process must be followed. We would offer three items to them. One is the QR code sticker, two is the apron three is a rider’s identity card. It’s more or less like a driver’s license but it’s just very peculiar to the riders alone.
On our way to your office this morning, we saw a sticker on a Keke tagged: environmental sanitation, are the keke riders paying for this too?
No, you just answered your question on environment. That’s Ministry of Environment. I don’t dictate what happens in that ministry.
But that also implies that there are multiple taxations.
Well, I can only speak for my own ministry. They might have their own policy or their own reason for dishing out or implementing the policy. It’s not interwoven. It’s different entirely.
But it’s one government. Yes, like I said, I can only speak for my own ministry. I can’t go and meet the commissioner for environment and tell him, okay, why are you doing this?
It’s the same way he cannot come here and say, okay, why are you doing this?
So, he must have cogent reason for whatever he’s doing.
Sir, recently, we had some reports of protests by Keke riders in Warri, what actually happened?
I think it was a flaw in the implementation of the policy. Because like I said, there was an agreement with the union that also doubles as the consultant to issue out these three items for N7,500. But, we heard they were collecting N12,000. And that was not the agreement we had. We had gone on air countless times to tell the riders that the amount remains. I don’t know what informed their own decision to add baskets from the Ministry of Environment which inflated the price. And that’s why there was this protest but we were able to settle the issue.
When I heard about it, I took immediate action I said no this is not the agreement.What we agreed was different from what they are doing and that’s why I was able to quickly stem the riots.
I ordered them to go back to the formal agreement which was N7,500 which the riders agreed and comfortable with so that was what caused that protest but we’ve made our position clear.
Are there measures in place to monitor and check this?
Yes, there is. In fact, I have a meeting with the chairman of the union not quite long to discuss this matter and for him to come and tell me why he went about doing that.
I can confidently tell you that there are mechanisms in place to checkmate such future occurrences.
Let’s go into the issue of tankers, heavy duty vehicles parking anywhere without a clear order. What are you doing about this?
Thank you. It is a big problem because the trailer drivers are very stubborn and difficult to control. However, we opened some parks for them. There are two trailer Parks here in Asaba and Warri. We’re also talking to the communities to find space where we can push them off the road. But the funny thing is that these people are very, very stubborn, the tanker drivers themselves. Extremely stubborn. And they are very volatile too. So, we also need to be very careful with how we engage them. But we’re going to keep engaging them. But we’ve also introduced something which may force them to obey .If people don’t want to leave the road, you’ll pay a fine. Those who disobey may be force to pay heavy.And I think with that, once it’s been implemented, nobody will tell them before they will leave the road. The result is since you don’t want to leave the road, you pay heavy fines.
Now let’s go back to our own Delta Line. It used to be very popular but not much is heard of them now and at a time God Is Good Motors was in charge. What is actually happening with Delta Line? Who owns Delta Line? Okay, that whole agreement was signed before this current administration came into power. But when I came, I reviewed the MOU, and apparently I can tell you that it has been privatized. So, those managing it has 60%, and the state government has about 40%.
So, apparently that means that they are the major shareholders, We are just board members of the state government .Actually, the Ministry of Transport plays a superficial role, but for now, we are also reviewing the terms of the agreement to see how we can pull our weight more .In fact, the MOU has been sent to the Ministry of Justice and to the economic management team of the government, which is headed by the Deputy Governor, and also the economic advisor, which is the former commissioner for economic planning, Dr. Barry Gbe. So, they are reviewing it. Very soon, we are going to have a very robust meeting with the management of Delta Line to see what is really happening to the operations.
Have you been able to find out the complaints from people?
I have to be very honest, I have not gotten any complaints from people on the operations of Delta Line for now, I have to be very honest.
In what ways are you collaborating in enhancing the transport ecosystem?
A lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot. One thing that I’m very proud of is, if you see right in front of you here, is a 3D presentation of a re-fuelling CNG station that His Excellency graciously approved and construction will soon take place and with this hopefully, the cost of transportation would drop massively. This company in question has been in operation in Edo State since 2009 from what
I’ve been to their re-fuelling station and if you get there, you’re going to see a queue of over one kilometer. Where you see taxis, you see keke, you see trucks going to fill up gas, and even this place is powered by gas, the CNG gas, so it’s something that the Presidency is also clamouring for.
They have a target of converting one million vehicles before 2027 and we want to add our quota to that. We’re also going to open conversion centers as it provides cheap transportation,
We need to embrace it because other states are embracing it now. I did a test run, converted a vehicle of mine in Edo State and I used N5,000 from Edo State to Asaba.
From Lafia, the Commissioner for Transport told me he used gas of N3,500. They have a Re-fuelling station there, from Lafia to Abuja, he said he spends about N3,500. So just imagine where you are spending N3,500 from Lafia to Abuja. We pray, let’s say, in four months’ time, by God’s grace, we should start doing that in Asaba
You are dealing with a set of people that are very stubborn, that’s what you said. So what is your relationship with the various unions?
We have a very good working relationship.
We never had a situation where all these senators are from the opposition party. Do you have any fear towards 2027?
Were you there when the second Niger Bridge road was flagged off? I was in attendance when the Minister came. Did you hear the statement he made concerning our Governor?
The President calls the Governor his son even though we are from different parties. Even the presidency is very, very happy with the work that the governor is doing, the president sees his excellency as his son.
So, the president will come and vote here?
No, no, no. What I mean is, I’m trying to tell you that even though they are from different Political parties, he appreciates what the Governor is doing here. The man is rehabilitating even federal roads. These people are not blind.
So, you are telling us that having three APC Senators in Delta State is not a challenge?
There is nothing to be afraid of for having the three APC senators in a state. Is it the three APC senators that are going to influence the vote of everybody in the state? Are you telling me the governor does not have followers? The governor have cabinet members. There are House of Assembly members. There are commissioners. There are local government chairmen. The government have appointees. We have board members. You should know that politics is all about numbers, financial members and numerical numbers .Even Reverend Waive said that everybody should queue behind His Excellency.
And so you are in support of that?
Why would I not be in support of that if an opposition man is saying that everybody should queue behind my boss?
But don’t you consider that as anti-party?
If it is for our own benefit, it’s not anti-party. Because I want my governor to come back in 2027. So, anti-party or not, as far as it benefit the governor and Deltans, because I know that if he returns, he’s going to consolidate more on what he has done so far. So, anything that helps my boss to win is welcome.
Okay, generally, in terms of achievements and every other thing, do you have any other message for Deltans?
This one should be simple. You should expect more. More and more.
Can you assess your ministry too?
Yes, I would give my ministry a solid 7. Not an 8, not a 9, not a 10, but a modest 7 out of a 10.
But there are rooms for improvement. Thank you.
