By Uka Davidson
As part of measures taken to checkmate crimes and criminality in the state especially among commercial tricyclists, the Ebonyi State government has begun identity profiling and registration of the tricyclists ( Keke operators)
The State Commissioner for
Transportation and Special Projects,
Hon Prince Collins Emeka Igboke who stated this while briefing journalists in Abakaliki said the essence of embarking on the registration exercise was to have the real data of the Keke riders in the state so as to easily trace anyone whose Keke is used for criminal activities, given the complaints some people always make about using Keke to rob them.
"We often hear some people complain of being robbed using Keke. They call them one-chance Keke. And when robbed, it is always difficult tracing that particular Keke used for the crime. This is one of the reasons for ensuring Keke riders in the state are well registered with relevant information about them, such that any Keke used for any criminal activity could easily be traced. Every Keke is supposed to have registration number boldly written on its body".
"We intend to sensitise the public to always look at the body of Keke and know its registration number before entering it so that if the person is robbed in the Keke, he or she can contact our ministry for us to quickly trace the owner or rider.
"The truth is that, not everybody riding Keke is bad but with this registration where we have your data, the ugly activities of the bad ones will be checkmated.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State government has refunded the sum of three thousand five hundred naira each to over six hundred and fifty Keke riders that paid #6,000 as registration in the State.
Recall that the tricycle operators that numbered over five thousand had a week ago protested along the major roads of Abakaliki over exorbitant payment of N6,000 registration fee.
The protest which nearly paralyzed businesses and other economic activities in the state took the intervention of the state governor, Francis Nwifuru who met the protesters and addressed them, where he assured that their grievances would be taken care of.
The governor later had a meeting with the ministry of Transportation and representatives of the Keke riders in his office and directed that the sum of N3,500 be refunded to the Keke riders who had paid the said N6,000.
The commissioner said the refund was in line with the directive of the state governor after a meeting he had with us, the leadership of Keke operators and some selected protesters where he approved that the Keke riders should be refunded with the sum of #3500.
"We have started the payment four days ago, as I speak with you, close to four hundred members of the Keke riders who registered with us have been refunded in accordance with the governor's directives.
"During our recent meeting with the governor where representatives of the Keke operators were present, the governor, in his magnanimity, directed that the N2,000 administrative fee be waved for everybody. He also said the operators should not pay N500 for inscribing numbers on their Keke, that the company engaged for the registration should do both registration and inscribing numbers on the Keke with the same N1,000. Therefore, every Keke rider now pays a total sum of N2,500; where N1,500 goes for ID card while N1,000 is for both registration fee and inscribing numbers on the Keke. No more administrative fee".
He explained that the initial amount the government placed for the registration was N5,000 and that it was the leadership of Keke that added N1,000, thereby making it N6,000.
Igboke, however, applauded the governor for his quick intervention and ensuring that there is peace and order in the state, and delivering on his campaign promises to the people through his people's charter of needs.
"I thank my boss and our father, the governor for wading into the matter and compassionately subsidizing the registration fees".
One of the Keke operators, Ibiam Onu Chima who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki shortly after collecting the money from the ministry of transport and special projects, commended the governor Francis Nwifuru for keeping to his promises, and vowed to lead a campaign for the governor's re-election is the forthcoming 2027 general election in the state.
Responding, Meso Egwu, CEO, North West Energy Ltd and consultant to the ministry of transportation and special projects, who is supervising the refund at International Conference center, Abakaliki commended the orderly behavior of the Keke operators.
Hon Prince Collins Emeka Igboke who stated this while briefing journalists in Abakaliki said the essence of embarking on the registration exercise was to have the real data of the Keke riders in the state so as to easily trace anyone whose Keke is used for criminal activities, given the complaints some people always make about using Keke to rob them.
"We often hear some people complain of being robbed using Keke. They call them one-chance Keke. And when robbed, it is always difficult tracing that particular Keke used for the crime. This is one of the reasons for ensuring Keke riders in the state are well registered with relevant information about them, such that any Keke used for any criminal activity could easily be traced. Every Keke is supposed to have registration number boldly written on its body".
"We intend to sensitise the public to always look at the body of Keke and know its registration number before entering it so that if the person is robbed in the Keke, he or she can contact our ministry for us to quickly trace the owner or rider.
"The truth is that, not everybody riding Keke is bad but with this registration where we have your data, the ugly activities of the bad ones will be checkmated.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State government has refunded the sum of three thousand five hundred naira each to over six hundred and fifty Keke riders that paid #6,000 as registration in the State.
Recall that the tricycle operators that numbered over five thousand had a week ago protested along the major roads of Abakaliki over exorbitant payment of N6,000 registration fee.
The protest which nearly paralyzed businesses and other economic activities in the state took the intervention of the state governor, Francis Nwifuru who met the protesters and addressed them, where he assured that their grievances would be taken care of.
The governor later had a meeting with the ministry of Transportation and representatives of the Keke riders in his office and directed that the sum of N3,500 be refunded to the Keke riders who had paid the said N6,000.
The commissioner said the refund was in line with the directive of the state governor after a meeting he had with us, the leadership of Keke operators and some selected protesters where he approved that the Keke riders should be refunded with the sum of #3500.
"We have started the payment four days ago, as I speak with you, close to four hundred members of the Keke riders who registered with us have been refunded in accordance with the governor's directives.
"During our recent meeting with the governor where representatives of the Keke operators were present, the governor, in his magnanimity, directed that the N2,000 administrative fee be waved for everybody. He also said the operators should not pay N500 for inscribing numbers on their Keke, that the company engaged for the registration should do both registration and inscribing numbers on the Keke with the same N1,000. Therefore, every Keke rider now pays a total sum of N2,500; where N1,500 goes for ID card while N1,000 is for both registration fee and inscribing numbers on the Keke. No more administrative fee".
He explained that the initial amount the government placed for the registration was N5,000 and that it was the leadership of Keke that added N1,000, thereby making it N6,000.
Igboke, however, applauded the governor for his quick intervention and ensuring that there is peace and order in the state, and delivering on his campaign promises to the people through his people's charter of needs.
"I thank my boss and our father, the governor for wading into the matter and compassionately subsidizing the registration fees".
One of the Keke operators, Ibiam Onu Chima who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki shortly after collecting the money from the ministry of transport and special projects, commended the governor Francis Nwifuru for keeping to his promises, and vowed to lead a campaign for the governor's re-election is the forthcoming 2027 general election in the state.
Responding, Meso Egwu, CEO, North West Energy Ltd and consultant to the ministry of transportation and special projects, who is supervising the refund at International Conference center, Abakaliki commended the orderly behavior of the Keke operators.
He equally commended the governor, Francis Nwifuru for approving the refund of #3500 to Keke operators, "the refund shows that he has the interest of the People at heart. We are almost through with the refund.
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