Tricycle, motorcycle operators appeal to Gov. Obiano to shift enforcement of ban

www.odogwublog.com reports that Commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators in Onitsha, on yesterday, appealed to Gov. Willie Obiano to rescind and shift the current ban on their operation in key road routes in the commercial city.


The commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators, who are popularly known as Keke and Okada respectively, made their demands known during a peaceful demonstration in collaboration with Coalition of Civil Society Organization.

The inscription in the placards read: ``We love you our dear governor, please extend the ban to six months’’; ``Gov. Obiano give us empowerment as most of us are graduates’’; ``We don’t have any means of livelihood, give us alternative’’ and ``We need job, please don’t ban us’’ among others.

Addressing journalists, the Leader of Coalition of Civil Society Organisation in Anambra, Comrade Uzor Uzor, said the demonstration was an appeal to the government to extend the period of the grace for the ban to six months to enable operators find alternative means of livelihood.


``Most of these operators are married and have dependants who are feeding from them and that is why we are appealing to Gov. Obiano to review the regulation,’’ Uzor said.


The Co-ordinator of Tricycle Operators in Onitsha, Mr. Odirachukwumma Nwigwe, appealed to Gov. Obiano to provide buses or cabs to make it easier for them to switch over to other means of livelihood which will enable them take care of their families.


“Over 80 percent of Keke and Okada operators are indigenes of Anambra State and we are more than 30,000.


``We are willing to abandon Okada and Keke business if government can pay us at least 30,000 monthly; so, we appeal to Gov. Obiano to review the regulation or provide us with alternatives,’’ he appealed.


The Co-ordinator of Okada Operators in Onitsha, Mr. Godson Nwiwu, disclosed that the ban had adversely affected the lifestyle of their families.


``The worst of it all is that there is no alternative routes for us to operate since the ban in Onitsha metropolis; that is why we are appealing to the governor to provide alternative and tamper justice with mercy,’’ Nwiwu said.


The protesters matched from Ziks Avenue to Upper Iweka through Port Harcourt road, Owerri Road to Oguta Road and from Awka Road to Old Market Roads.


It would be recalled that Anambra government on May 25 announced the banned commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators in some major highways in the state through Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ejikeme. (END)



Pictures -

Pictures of a peaceful demonstration demanding Anambra government empowerment and education of commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders in Onitsha, Anambra State on Wednesday.


The peace demonstration was carried out by commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders in conjunction with Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Onitaha, Anambra State.

Commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders have been banned from plying some road routes within Onitsha since May 26, 2015 (for about three months now).


Demonstration – 1: The peaceful demonstration on-going.

Demonstration – 2: The peaceful demonstration on-going.

Demonstration – 3: The peaceful demonstration on-going.

Demonstration – 4: The peaceful demonstration on-going.

Demonstration – 5: The Co-ordinator of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Anambra, Comrade Uzor Uzor, speaking after the demonstration while others display placards stating their demands.