New transport minister to tackle crisis in transport sector
Freetown, (SLENA) – The newly appointed Minister of Transport and Aviation, Leonard Balogu Koroma (in photo) has opined that no country in the world will succeed in its economic and overall development strides without a robust transportation system.
In this regard, Mr. Balogu Koroma said a lot of actions needed to be undertaken towards the administrative system in the transport and aviation sectors to march up with international standards.
Responding to a handing over remarks by his predecessor, Vandy Chid Minah now Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to UN in New York, Mr. Balogu Koroma expressed grave concern over the security situation at the Queen Elizabeth11quay and the Lungi airport that does not auger well for the development of the country.
He cited the recent incident where a private jet of an intending foreign investor was tampered with and the suspect now in police custody helping with investigation.
The minister referred to the incident as a national embarrassment and assured the nation that the culprit will face the full penalty of the law for such not to be repeated in future.
As for the Queen Elizabeth II quay, Mr. Balogu Koroma reported the unofficial network operation by certain people based at the old FBC building whose illegal action has reflected on the high cost of containers and in turn affects the living standards of the ordinary citizen.
Such issues, including the long queues of passengers especially FBC students and at other locations in the city that has resulted in untold sufferings of the people, in addition to exploitation by drivers demanding double payments, the minister stressed, need urgent attention and a priority that should be addressed in line with the agenda for prosperity.
On the issue of Registration and Licensing of vehicles, the minister recommeded the decentralization of the process so as to save time and money spent by transport owners to travel all the way to Freetown from the regions.
Mr. Koroma also called on the traffic wardens to desist from imposing unnecessary fines on drivers and warned boats and ferry operators against overloading.
The outgoing Minister, Chidi Minah disclosed that the four year plan by the ministry for the construction of an international airport at Mamama by the Chinese that will cost up to the tune of one billion dollars, provisions for jetties and ferries was in progress.
While cataloguing the achievements of the ministry which he noted is now in the limelight, Chidi Minah told his successor that apart from his ministerial post, he will be representing the country at many international organizations such as the Maritime International Institute.
He reported that the object of the ministry is to ensure the safety of the people and nothing could have been achieved without the team work of all stakeholders in the ministry.
It should be recalled that it was during the tenure of office of Chidi Minah that 50 long buses were acquired by government that has gone a long way to ease transportation problem and the Lungi International airport also got a facelift.
AC/SLENA
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