All taskforces of commercial tricycle, popularly known as keke, have been dissolved immediately until further notice in Enugu state.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Transport, Mr Ogbonna Idike, gave the order on Saturday in Enugu after a meeting with the executives and members of the commercial tricycle union in the state.
The meeting was called by the ministry on the sidelines of the peaceful protest held by some members of the tricycle union on Friday over harassment and extortion by tricycle taskforce members operating within Enugu metropolis.
Idike said the decision covers both legally and illegally constituted taskforces for tricycle operators.
He lashed the tricycle operators for not officially reporting the matter to the ministry on time as the ministry’s offices remained open for the public and road stakeholders, especially drivers/riders.
Idike said the ministry before now was not aware of this negative and inhuman development.
“Henceforth, the state government, through the ministry, will streamline and sanction all transport union taskforces to conform to best practices and standards as well as ensure that hoodlums and thugs do not hijack such exercises.
“First, the union must apply and get the approval of the ministry; while those to carry out the taskforce duty will be well known and well profiled with numbered reflective aprons, identification cards and they must be properly dressed.
“All taskforce members must be duly trained by the ministry on how to carry out their duties in the most courteous manner that will not disturb public peace but attract commendation due to discipline and professionalism in carrying out such duties.
“The ministry will also clearly specify what an offence is and the attendant fine and penalty of such an offence. It will not be arbitrary or outright extortion again,” he said.
Idike said the ministry officials and traffic officers work during public holidays and weekends to ensure that traffic control and issues between drivers, union members and other road users are quickly sorted out.
“The ministry is here to promote and ensure that Gov. Peter Mbah’s target of making that the state becomes a more productive and prosperous state for all will be achieved,” he added.
Reacting, Chairman of Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union (ATRTU), Mr Sunday Ozeh, praised the government for its timely intervention, saying the association would follow the ministry’s guidance and actions meant to streamline operation for optimal performance.
Ozeh urged the state government, through the ministry, to interface with the Council chairmen to ensure that their tricycle taskforce officials operate within their designated local government parks as stipulated in their mandates
