Ahead of its August 1, 2024 date for the enforcement of restriction on the operating time for tricycle and other commercial automobile operators, tricyclists in Aba, the commercial hub, have called for a review.
The Source reports that the Abia State Government had last month slammed a restriction order on the hours of operation for all tricycles,motorcycles and mini bus commercial operators in the state, citing the need to curb rising wave of criminal activities in Aba and Umuahia as major reason.
Prince Uzor Nwachuukwu, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said credible intelligence available to the Government has shown that there have been an increased in the number of violent and other criminal activities in some major cities of the state particularly Aba and Umuahia the state capital.
He noted that reports also indicated that the criminals who majorly carry out their nefarious activities late on and early hours of the day, operate mostly with tricycles .
Prince Nwachukwu, informed that the State Authorities have, therefore, decided to restrict the operating time of the tricyclists to between 6.00am and 7.00pm daily.
The initial commencement date of July 1,was canceled due to what the state Government said was to give the tricycle operators and other commercial automobile operators in the state enough time to comply with the registration processes required of all commercial tricycle and bus operators.
A new enforcement date was set for August 1, with the authorities warning of dare consequences for defaulters .
But the tricycle operators, under the aegis of Real Keke Operators Association Aba, REKOAA, on Tuesday July16, pleaded with the authorities to review the time of the restriction so as not to visit the sin of a tiny few on the vast majority of the tricycle riders .
Chairman of the REKOAA ,Chimezie Nwokejiobi, while briefing with the media after during a peace demonstration , noted that criminal activities involving some operators ,which informed the restriction order, can easily be handled if there is a synergy among the Keke riders Union, Government and security agencies.
According to him, the planned restriction of the operations of tricyclists to between 6.00 am and 7.00pm,will further worsen the hardship already being faced by the operators owing to the harsh economic situation in the country.
The Tricycles Operators Chairman, warned that Aba, as a commercial enclave, cannot afford to go to sleep at 7.00 pm .
While applauding Governor Alex Otti for his infrastructural renewal efforts in the commercial nerve centre of the State, Nwokejiobi, however urged him to review the restriction policy in its present form, because it will tantamount to punishing the majority of innocent people for a sin of a few.
“We know that the Governor means well for us. We know that he equally means well for Abians.We are aware that he has done much within the last one year to lift the state in all fronts? So we have to assist him to achieve all the good plans he has for the State.
“We are here today ( Tuesday July 16) to tell the Government and the good people of Abia state that we are not criminals and are not in support of any criminal activities being perpetrated by those underage criminal elements masquerading as tricycle operators .
“They (underaged Keke riders) are portraying us in bad light before the public. These boys would spend their day smoking ,taking illicit and dangerous substances, relaxing in betting shops in the day, only to come out at night to snatch people’s bags and other valuables. We can no longer allow that to continue” the Chairman stated.
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