Economic Hardship: Keke Napep Operators Protest In Yobe
By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Keke Napep Operators under the auspices of Association of Tricycle Drivers, on Tuesday staged a protest in Damaturu, over alleged extortion by officials of Yobe State Road Transport Agency (YOROTA).
The tricycle drivers say despite current economic hardship, the government agency is extorting daily fees from them and ordering fresh registration by every rider.
The protest has crippled economic activities in the state capital as many residents were left stranded without means of transportation to their places of work and businesses.
It is also affecting school children, some of whom were forced to return home when they couldn’t get transportation to school.
The State Chairman of the association, Umaru Barau, however, said that the leadership of the tricycle riders was not consulted before some of its members embarked on the protest.
The chairman said they would meet with security agencies and other stakeholders to appraise the situation.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mai Mala Buni has warned that government would not condone any act capable of breaching public peace in the state.
In a press release signed by Mamman Mohammed, Director General, Press and Media Affairs to the governor, said government will not compromise safety and security of its citizens for anything.
He said government shall stand firm against anything and anyone that disrupts the relative peace and harmony enjoyed across the state.
Gov. Buni charged the commercial tricyclists to channel their grievances through constituted authorities and not in any way take the laws into their hands.
Meanwhile, Gov. Buni has directed the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Malam Wali, heads of security agencies, YOROTA and leadership of the tricycle operators to draw clear and unambiguous additional measures that guarantee the security of citizens, and improve the operations of the tricyclists across the state.
He said the measures should resolve all areas of differences between Keke Napep operators, YOROTA, and security agencies to improve safety, and harmony among road users and the regulators.
