From Dan Maduagwu,
Umuahia
As the 48-hour deadline given to operators of commercial tricycle operators popularly known as Keke NAPEP to register or revalidate their membership expires in Abia State, the State government is set to clamp down on all defaulters.
The State government had through a directive by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Chris Ezem ordered the leadership of all tricycle unions in the State to conduct detailed registration and revalidation of all riders in the State.
The exercise, the State government said, was aimed at flushing the Keke operators of criminal elements that operate under the guise of Keke riders but rather used the avenue to rob and maim innocent members of the public.
The State Government specifically blamed the recent upsurge in robbery that has left two Points of Sale (PoS) agents dead on suspected criminals who infiltrated the Keke Napep business.
However, more than three days after the order, most Keke operators in the State are yet to comply with the new system, according to a senior member of Tricycle Operators Association of Nigeria (TOAN) who spoke under anonymity.
The TOAN chief revealed that a clamp down would soon be launched on erring members who refused to comply with the order, warning that defaulters risk heavy fine, which includes impounding of tricycles as well as prosecution in Court.
He however explained that union was committed to sanitizing the transport sub sector of questionable elements, adding that Okezie Ikpeazu’s government was right in the security measures taken so far.
But some Keke NAPEP riders who spoke on the fresh exercise, Mr. Simon Ujunmadu and Kelechi Onuaku faulted the move, pointing out that it was another form of making money from them as according to them, they would still be allegedly made to pay some money by the Keke unions leaders.
According to Kelechi “How many times are we going to register, the other time they told us to paint our Keke with green and yellow colour which cost us a lot of money.
“That time, they claimed it was to separate the genuine riders from thieves, they also ordered us to remove our side apron so that we don’t use them to rob, again they have come with member registration or whatever they call it.”
“They should allow us to have a space, any Keke man arrested for robbery or any other offence should be jailed or penalized but that does not mean that every Keke rider in Abia would be tagged a suspect”, Kelechi said.
