Last Tuesday, 28th August, 2023 made it exactly one year since Engr. Emeka Okonkwo assumed office as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, ARTMA. There is no doubt that his appointment came with lots of expectations from Ndi Anambra. He was described by many as a round peg in a round hole because of his enviable records and accomplishments especially in the transport sector and in public administration. His ability to resolve the Oye-agu Abagana-Ifitedunu Junction and Afor-Igwe market yuletide gridlocks when he was the Transition Committee Chairman of Dunukofia Local Government Area came to mind.
Engr. Okonkwo is a Staffordshire University trained Mechatronics Engineer. Before becoming the helms man at ARTMA, he was once the Transition Committee Chairman of Dunukofia LGA, Director General, Anambra State Youth Mobilization, Technology and Innovation and Director General, Soludo Campaign in Dunukofia.
With the instrumentality of his wealth of experience and the uncommon support from Mr. Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Engr Okonkwo has performed creditably in traffic management and control in Anambra State, staff capacity-building, and improved internal revenue generation for the state. He has restored traffic discipline and zero gridlock on all Anambra roads.
With the co-operation of sister agencies including the Police and the good people of Anambra State, he successfully barricaded the Building Materials International Market, Ogidi Junction which had been causing terrible gridlock and mounted road signs to ease traffic in the area; introduced ARTMA’s ad-hoc officers’ and customer service lines for complaints; organized a week intensive training for the agency’s over eight hundred permanent and ad-hoc staff and installed modern road signs across major cities in the state.
Other major achievements of Engineer Okonkwo in the past one year include the creation of mini-parks and the relocation of buses and Keke to the new parks in major cities, installation of single-lane signs at Onitsha Bridge-Head to prevent the multiple lanes created on the bridge that cause gridlocks, professional marking of road lines and symbols in major cities of the state, introduction of night shifts for officers of the agency to help manage gridlock in selected areas around Awka at night, eradication of perpetual gridlocks at Nkpor Junction, Afor Nkpor, Tarzan, Oye Olise, Arroma, Eke Awka and traffic law enforcement using digital technology including cameras.
Engr. Emeka Okonkwo is a dedicated leader who ensures that specified deliverables and objectives are promptly achieved. He is passionate with his job as a traffic manager as he always leads the charge from the front emulating his principal, Governor Soludo. Obviously, the litany of celebrations, goodwill messages, and prayers by Ndị Anambra which have been pouring in are testimonials to his spectacular stewardship.
As Engr Okonkwo marks one year in office as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ARTMA, road users are advised to support the efforts being made in traffic management and control in Anambra State by always obeying traffic rules and road signs. Remember to pull over and to use your triangles and hazard lights when your vehicles develop faults. Also, remember to call any of the customer care lines provided by ARTMA when you feel wrongfully impounded as a representative would be delighted to attend to you.
To Engr. Emeka Okonkwo -Konti, the reward for hard work is more work and it is the expectation of the officers at ARTMA and Ndị Anambra in general that you continue to deliver results and implement the Solution Agenda in traffic management in the state.
Written EMMANUEL NWEKE
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