The Imo State Government has officially reintroduced the Imo State Traffic Management Agency (ISTMA) to enforce traffic laws and ensure discipline among motorists across the state.
The agency, which was previously suspended for several years, was relaunched and inaugurated by the Commissioner for Transport, Emeka Okoronkwo, during a ceremony held at Arugo Motor Park, Onitsha Road, Owerri.
Speaking during the inauguration, Okoronkwo charged the new ISTMA management team to perform their duties with a human face, maintaining order while promoting a friendly relationship with drivers and other road users.
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Moneme Judith, and the Head of Transport, alongside other top ministry officials.
According to the commissioner, ISTMA will now act as the sole government body responsible for traffic control and management in the state. He emphasized that the new operational phase will focus on strict enforcement of traffic regulations, particularly around sensitive zones like the Assumpta Cathedral–Control Post flyover.
Okoronkwo noted that the move became necessary following the state’s ban on indiscriminate loading and offloading of passengers and goods near the flyover — a measure aimed at protecting the newly commissioned infrastructure and improving traffic flow.
“The commencement of this operation has become expedient to guarantee safe road usage and protect such critical infrastructure as the Assumpta Flyover recently commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
The commissioner also revealed that the ministry has provided three public distress lines to receive complaints and feedback on ISTMA officials, warning that any misconduct will attract strict sanctions.
While commending Governor Hope Uzodinma for his commitment to modern transport infrastructure, Okoronkwo applauded drivers for their vital role in the state’s economy.
Delivering a goodwill lecture, Mr. David Egejuru, Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), urged ISTMA operatives to be courteous, disciplined, and law-abiding, reminding them that road safety is a shared responsibility.
Commercial drivers and transport operators, in their reactions, welcomed the agency’s return, expressing optimism that its reintroduction will restore sanity, ease traffic congestion, and foster a better relationship between the government and motorists.
