ANAMBRA STATE GOVT THREATENS TO BAN COMMERCIAL TRICYCLE OPERATION UNLESS …
Reporter : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
The Anambra State Government has threatened to ban the use of tricycles as a means of transportation due to their alleged involvement in perpetrating criminal activities in the area. As a result, the operators of the tricycles, popularly known as Keke, a have been warned to desist from being used in promoting insecurity, cult clashes and killings in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, who gave the warning while addressing the tricycle operators, expressed concern over the rising cases of crime perpetuated with tricycles in the area. He maintained that intelligence gathering recieved over the last few weeks, indicated that major crimes committed in some parts of the state were carried out with the aid of tricycle operators. He advised them to ensure that they registered with their unoin for easy identification.
The SSG reminded the Keke operators that government would have no other alternative but to ban their operation in the state, if criminal activities perpetrated with the aid of tricycles were not stopped.
The SSG also used the medium to warn them against reckless driving, which often caused gridlock and accidents in parts of the state.
Professor Chukwulobelu, who pointed out that Governor Obiano would not jeopardize the security architecture already achieved, called on the operators to assist government in achieving its objectives in the security sector.
The State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Afam mbanefo, represented by his predecessor, Mr. Uchenna Okafor, used the opportunity to announce the cancellation of all monthly dues being paid by the tricycle riders.
The Special Adviser to Governor Obiano on Security, Chief Chikaodili Anara, advised the tricycle operators to form a task force to help them fish out bad elements among them.
The tricycle operators took turns to express some of the challenges they faced and appealed to government to look into some of the fees imposed on them by union leaders.
Top government functionaries, the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, among others were part of the meeting.
Radio Nigeria gathered that another meeting involving Anambra State Government, tricycle operators and their union leaders has been scheduled for Monday November 16, 2020 where some of the challenges of the riders would be addressed.