Robert Nkili re-emphasizes decision on movement of trucks

Robert Nkili re-took a decision regarding the circulation of heavy goods vehicles in urban centres in Cameroon. The Minister of transport made it known that trucks carrying sand, gasoline and various goods can circulate in urban roads at any time but at a speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour.

The measure of the Minister of transport prohibiting the circulation of heavy goods vehicles in urban centres between 6 am and 9pm had been challenged by the professionals of transport, including sand carriers who considered this an impractical measure in their sector of activity. They even carried demonstrations in the city of Yaoundé for this purpose.

In an interview with Equinoxe Radio, economist Simon Bassiliken, strongly criticised this decision by the Minister of transport. He believed that Robert Nkili dodged the real causes of the accidents of trucks which are the poor state of roads, dilapidated trucks that circulate in the city and issuing false certificates of technical visits.

The streets in the cities are not maintained, the people are so poor that they cannot buy new trucks or maintain the right way from the very old trucks that they have in service, technical services who are in charge to issue the validity of the truck are themselves corrupt, decries economy expert for whom this decision would have very negative consequences on the economic plan. I take for example the Douala-Ndjamena or Douala-Kousseri corridor.

If trucks must pass through towns at night, it's going to delay certain perishable goods, we will end up with undue economic burdens, says economist who thinks that the Minister of transport would have consulted economic operators before taking such a decision.