Protesting against what they claim is the recent enforcement of a N2,000 weekly ticketing scheme by the State Ministry of Transport, tricycle operators, commonly referred to as Keke NAPEP, took to the streets in Abia State on Monday.
Adding to their grievances, these commercial Keke riders voiced their dissatisfaction with the recent hike in petrol prices, citing that a liter now selling at N750 is making their daily efforts futile.
Displaying placards and green tree leaves, the riders occupied key points in Umuahia, obstructing roads from Umuwaya Road, Corporative, Warri Street, Item Street, and Ohafia Street at the central Isi gate location between 9:30 am and 11 am.
They also decided not to cater to passengers heading towards the Ubakala axis during the protest.
In their plea for immediate action, the riders urged Governor Alex Otti to intervene and instruct the Ministry of Transport and revenue authorities to revert to the previous N350 daily payment system, which they found more manageable.
Furthermore, they called for an end to the harassment of their members by middlemen and appealed to the Abia government to allocate more parking spaces in Umuahia for passenger drop-offs.
During the demonstration, Ike Jerry, one of the protesters, highlighted the alliance their union had with Governor Alex Otti’s administration, evident through their collective support in the 2023 governorship election.
Expressing concern, Ike Jerry stated, “We believe the Governor is not aware of this new ticket arrangement. That is why we want him to intervene now and order these task force people to revert to the daily ticket arrangement.”
Another protester, Chinonso Ogukwe, emphasized the need for the state government to uphold the eradication of touting, preventing its resurgence.
Simultaneously, a different group of tricycle operators redirected their peaceful protest to the Abia State government house, where they received an audience with Martins Okechukwu Justice, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment and Tourism matters.
In response to their demonstration, the Special Assistant appreciated the riders for their peaceful stance and assured them that he would convey their concerns to Governor Alex Otti.