Business activities, human and vehicular traffic were disrupted in and around Umuahia, the Abia State capital on Monday morning as protesting tricycle riders took over major roads and streets of the city.
They are demanding that the State government should review its policy on ticketing which according to them has made it difficult for them to operate in the State.
At the popular Okpara square in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the entrance and exit roads were all blocked by tricycle riders who are demanding better service from the state government
The tricycle riders are asking government to look into the high cost of ticketing they’re being charged to operate in Umuahia and Abia State in general.
The protesters are angry that despite the high cost of living and the increasing price of fuel, the Abia State government is still making it difficult for them to operate and can no longer save anything to take care of their family expenses.
The tricycle operators popularly known as Keke, want the State government to review the policy of collecting weekly revenue which also includes Saturdays and Sundays.
The protesters marched to the Government House, Umuahia where they tabled their complaints to the authorities.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism and Entertainment, Okechukwu Martins who addressed the protesters in Igbo language assures them that their demands and grievances would be resolved by Governor Alex Otti.
One of the operators claim that the implication of the revenue module of the weekly ticketing, is that tricycle operators in Abia State are meant to pay even on the days they are not at work, whether you choose to have a rest, due to illness, or other personal reasons.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
