Tunji Wusu –
All task forces for the state’s popular “Keke” commercial tricycles have been disbanded by the Enugu State Government till further notice.
Following a meeting with the executives and members of the commercial tricycle union, Mr. Ogbonna Idike, permanent secretary in the state ministry of transportation, made this announcement on Saturday in Enugu.
The ministry called the meeting in response to some tricycle union members’ peaceful demonstration on Friday against harassment and extortion by tricycle taskforce members operating in the Enugu metropolis.
Idike added that the dissolution took effect right away and affected task forces for tricycle operators that were both legitimately and illegitimately organized.
The ministry’s offices were still open to the public and other road users, particularly cars and riders, so the permanent secretary berated the tricycle operators for failing to formally report the issue to the government in a timely manner.
He claimed that the ministry had previously been ignorant of this unfavorable and cruel trend.
To ensure that all transport union task teams adhere to best practices and standards and prevent hoodlums and thugs from hijacking such exercises, the state government would, going forward, streamline and sanction all of them through the ministry.
“The task force members will be widely known and highly profiled with numbered reflective aprons, identification cards, and they must be appropriately dressed. First, the union must seek and receive the ministry’s consent.
“All taskforce members must receive adequate training from the ministry on how to perform their tasks in a polite manner that won’t disturb the serenity of the community but instead win praise for their discipline and professionalism.
The government will also make it clear what constitutes an offense, as well as the fine and other consequences that go along with it. It won’t be capricious or open extortion once more,” he declared.
Idike claimed that in order to assure traffic management and the prompt resolution of disputes involving drivers, union members, and other road users, ministry officials and traffic officers are on duty on holidays and on the weekends.
He continued, “The ministry is here to promote and assure that the state’s goal of becoming a more productive and wealthy state for all will be achieved.
In response, Mr. Sunday Ozeh, Chairman of the Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union, praised the government for its prompt action and said that the association will follow any instructions and measures taken by the ministry to simplify operations for the best results.
Ozeh encouraged the state government to work with the Council chairmen through the ministry to make sure that the tricycle task force representatives are operating in the designated local government parks as specified in their responsibilities.
