By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Abia State Government has imposed restriction on the operational time of tricyclists and motorcycle riders in the State.
Effective July 1, 2024, commercial tricyclists and motorcycle operators will only function from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm.
The restrictions order is to curtail the rising wave in criminal activities in some major cities of the State particularly, Aba the commercial centre, and Umuahia, the State Capital according to the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu.
At a Media briefing on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Commissioner noted that the over riding aim of the restriction order is to secure lives and properties of law abiding citizens and residents.
Prince Nwachukwu lamented that of recent a lot of security breaches and issues, such as pick- pocketing, robbery and other criminal activities have been on the increase in Aba and Umuahia.
He stated that some innocent and law abiding citizens and residents have fallen victims to such unwarranted robbery attacks and other criminal tendencies.
According to him, findings revealed that most of the criminal elements perpetrate their activities with the aid of tricycles and motorcycles.
Prince Nwachukwu informed that before arriving at the restriction order, major stakeholders including the leaderships of the tricycle and motorcycle operators were carried along.
“A lot of reports have been lodged regarding an upsurge in criminal activities, particularly in major cities of the State.
“The reports available to Security Agencies indicate that most of the criminal activities like robberies do take place in the evening, late night and early morning hours in the cities.
“The Abia State Government has decided to curb the operations of the criminals who use tricycles (keke) and motorcycles to perpetrate their activities” the Commissioner stated.
Prince Nwachukwu equally announced that a Monitoring and Compliance Committee has been set up.
The Committee under the Chairmanship of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah, Rtd is to ensure that tricycles, motorcycles and Commercial vehicles operating in Abia State are properly registered.
“The State Government also believe that part of the ways to halt the criminal trend is to know exactly the owners and operators of the tricycles, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles operating in the state .
“So by that reason all commercial vehicles, motorcycles (okada), tricycles ,mini buses, full buses, and whatever anybody is using to operate commercial transport will be enumerated and registered so that in the event of criminal activities Government will know whose vehicle is responsible.”Nwachukwu noted.
While stating that Security Agencies in the State have been informed about the development, the Commissioner, however, assured that the restriction order will be reviewed as soon as practicable.
He equally promised that the policy will be implemented in line with due process and respect for the fundamental rights of law abiding citizens and residents.
