Following appeals from Abia residents, especially those in Aba, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has extended the operational time of tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
This development would ease the burden of transportation on residents, as well as elongate business hours in Aba and Umuahia, the State capital.
The Governor, who was a special guest at a rally organised by the Aba zone of the Abia State Amalgamated Tricycle Operators Association (ASATOA), an umbrella body of tricycle operators in the State, Tuesday in Aba, to show support to his administration and efforts he is making to regenerate the commercial city, however warned that Government will not hesitate to wield the big stick on the operators, if they allow their tricycles to be used for criminal activities, stressing that anyone caught, aiding criminals, would be made to face the law.
He stated that the initial reduction in their time of operation to 7.00 pm was due to the increase in crime associated with tricycle in recent past and appealed to them not to condone bad ones among them, as the activities of such people would give all the operators bad image.
He also promised that government would stop the imposition of multiple levies on the union and urged them to resist any attempt by any group outside ASATOA, their umbrella body, to determine what they pay as levies.
Ikpeazu assured the people of his administration’s willingness to continue to invest in infrastructure, especially road rehabilitation to give Aba a face-lift, noting that he is committed to rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Road and other roads in Aba.
According to him, the attention being given to Aba by my administration is in the belief that the city is the bedrock of the economy of the State, as it is the home of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Eugene Eze Job, chairman, ASATOA, Aba Zone, earlier in his address assured the Governor of the support of the union to his administration, in view of the many good things he has so far done in the State, especially Aba and condemned the attempt by what he called “a cabal” in the State to wrestle power from his hand.
He promised that the union will resist any attempt by any person or group of persons that tries to remove the Governor from office illegally and urged him not to be dismayed, noting that he would be victorious at the end.
