The Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State Chapter, Hon. Ambrose Sopuruchukwu Okpor, has intervened in the protest by commercial transport operators in Port Harcourt over alleged harassment, extortion and intimidation by task force officials and some police officers.
The intervention took place on Friday as tricycle and minibus operators suspended their services, disrupting transportation in parts of the Rivers State capital.
The protesting drivers accused enforcement officials of allegedly impounding their vehicles without justification and forcing them to pay multiple tickets they described as unauthorised.
They said the situation was particularly troubling in Choba, where they alleged that commercial transport operators were frequently subjected to harassment and extortion by task force personnel.
The drivers appealed to the Rivers State Government to investigate their complaints and take steps to stop the alleged practice of collecting multiple tickets from transport operators.
Okpor visited the protest scene, where he met with the drivers and listened to their grievances.
After hearing their complaints, the NYCN chairman appealed to the protesters to remain calm and resolve the matter through dialogue.
He also urged the drivers to remove the barricades erected during the protest, stressing the need to protect public safety and allow traffic to move freely.
Okpor assured the protesters that he would communicate their concerns to the relevant government authorities and push for the issues to receive urgent attention.
He reaffirmed the NYCN’s commitment in Rivers State to promoting constructive engagement between citizens and government, protecting the legitimate interests of young people and encouraging peaceful approaches to resolving disputes.
The intervention came as concerns continued to mount among commercial transport operators over the activities of enforcement officials.
The drivers have urged the state government to address their complaints, warning that failure to resolve the issues could lead to further disruptions in commercial transportation across Port Harcourt.