Keke operators protest against FCTA restriction

Tricycle (popularly known as keke) operators on Monday protested as the Federal Capital Territory Administration prepared to begin on Tuesday (today) the arrest of tricycle operators, who operate in restricted areas.

The National President of Tricycle Owners Association, Austin Apeh, and the Chairman, Welfare Enforcement of the association in the FCT, Thomas Danjuma, told journalists in Abuja on Monday during the protest that they would go to court to determine whether the FCTA had the legislation from the National Assembly before the clampdown.

Apeh said, “The FCTA said they would be banning us from the major routes and restrict us to the estates and villages. The decision is going to throw many people into the job markets because keke business feeds over 40,000 persons in Abuja. We want to be proactive and come out on time because another evil is coming after the same assault 17 years ago.

“The government should disband the FCT Ministerial Joint Task Force on Keke. We will go to the NICN to challenge the decision and fight for our rights. We will find out if they have the legislation from the National Assembly.

“Politically, they are betraying our trust because the present administration approached us for assistance during the 2019 General Elections and we did our best to bring them to power. It is unfortunate that the people we brought to office have turned against us. A tricycle costs N680,000 and if you multiply it by 40,000, you will know the investments that will be wasted.”

The TOA president also called on the FCT Minister, Alhaji Musa Bello, to caution the task force “which operates like terrorists.”

He said, “They are saying keke should be restricted. In England, they have introduced tricycle; in New Delhi, it is the same. They claim tricycles are used for robbery. It is like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. When security fails, they look for where to put the blame. Although there are deviants everywhere, there are also good people.”