Chaos In AK Transport Sector… Operators Vow To Resist Levies Tricycle riders popularly known as keke operators, yesterday engaged the AkwaIbom State government in a fight to finish as they massively protested alleged illegal; imposition of tickets. The visibly angry operators stormed Ibom plaza as early as six Oclock in the morning, chanting songs condemning the illegal ticket. It would be recalled that the keke operators had earlier this year protested what they described as multiple ticketing, a situation that led to suspension of all forms of ticket and levies. The long awaited revolution by keke operators in Uyo over illegal imposition of levy by the state government has finally surfaced. Yesterdays protest, it was gathered by our correspondent arose from the anger that the Ministry of Transport under the watch of Mr. Godwin Ntukude as Commissioner, in alliance with transport unions in the state, last Sunday at Community primary School, AfahaUbeh, Uyo, decided on N400 daily ticket for operators within the metropolis, a decision viewed as an attempt by the Ministry to aggravate the level of poverty already experienced by the operators. Others see it as an attempt to discourage self-employment and encourage criminality since it is more attractive to become a ticket agent to government. It was further gathered that stakeholders from the Ministry of Transport and agents of government in transport unions in the state, recently had a meeting to fix the outrageous N400 levy on keke operators in Uyo metropolis before the decision was made known to the operators at the general meeting held last Sunday at AfahaUbeh. Our Correspondent gathered thatthe announcement of the levy at the Sunday meeting was greeted with complaints by affected keke operators while beneficiaries were seen jubilating at the turn of event. Speaking to The Sensor reporters during the protest yesterday, Mr. Victor OkonBrownson, a keke rider condemned government and its agents. He lamented that imposition of N400 was without business consideration explaining that keke as a business has other daily bill to pay including fueling, lubrication and loading charges among others. A visibly frustrated Brownson disclosed that, his keke is on hire purchase. He said it was difficult for an operator to make, consistently N1,000 a day to pay N400 to government, thus questioning how he will go home with N600 to take care of fueling for the next day operation and feeding of his family. According to him, the suffering is too much and unbearable, adding “We have to revolt, enough is enough” requesting government to bring down the levy to N200 for peace to reign in the metropolis. Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Essien said that the Ministry of Transport is subjecting young self employed people to untold hardship He maintained that despite the inability government to provide enough jobs youths, who out of lack of employment opportunities engage in kekebusiness are being punished with high levies. He observed with dismay thatkeke operators have no parking spaces and are not allowed to operate at the plaza area Meanwhile, Mr. Godwin Donatus, a Director, Monitoring group for tricycle operators in the state, while reacting to the protest said that government suspended sale of ticket since January 2014 due to multiple sale of tickets to operators at that time. According to Donatus, before the suspension, Uyo, Itu, Uruan, Itam, Ibesikpo and IbionoIbom, local government areas sold their tickets differently and at different rates. Mr. Donatus maintained that keke riders union in a bid to alleviate its members plights, liaised with the state government and asked them to put to an end the multiple ticket regime sold at N250.00 daily at areas of operation, adding that, the stakeholders of the business after consulting with the appropriate quarters decided to have a unified system of ticketing in the state which resulted in the new N400 levy He stressed that in the new ticketing regime if an operator buys a ticket in Uyo local government area, he can use it to operate in other sister local government areas without hitch. He also said that the ban of the ticket business was lifted last Sunday by the Commissioner For Transport, Mr. Godwin Ntukudeh adding that the ticket will be sold at the rate of N400.00 daily He said that once a person buys a ticket, he can ply all routes without molestation. In supporting the move, the keke riders Monitoring Director said that this would help check touting in the system. On how to check fake tickets, Mr. Donatus maintained that nobody was permitted to print any ticket apart from the state government, confirming that before now there were fake tickets. He said that the new ticket which goes for N400 would be printed by the state government, while no union is permitted to print any ticket apart from those ones that would be legally issued by the Ministry of Transport to the unions. Passengers who spoke with our correspondent in solidarity with the protesting keke operators questioned the rational behind state government high levy of N400 a day and demanded that it should be reduced. Speaking to our Reporters, a staff of the Ministry of Transport, who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that, the ministry is aware of the problem . Meanwhile, keke operators in Uyo metropolis have vowed to continue the protest until government brings down the levy to N200 a day.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:34:20 +0000
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