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By Joseph Adahnu, Yola
Commercial activities in Yola, Adamawa State capital have been crippled for 24 hours by angry tricycle riders known as Keke NAPEP.
The protest followed huge dues melted on them which prompted the
protest distracting activities in the former Mubi roundabout now Atiku Abubakar way, one of the commercial center of the state that led to closure of stores both big and small to avoid being vandalized by some hoodlums.
The angry riders took over some major roads linking the the Mubi roundabout causing artificial hold ups for several hours where business activities from Shopping complex at Atiku Abubakar way, Jimeta modern market at Mohammed Mustafa way respectively.
Speaking to reporters, the leader of the tricycle riders, Mohammed Galadima said “we are protesting because of the charges we are being subjected to pay every day”
“It will surprise you to hear that, We pay N100 in the morning and by noon they ask for another N100 payment which is so worrisome not only that even if a rider finds himself in Yola South from Yola North, you will pay another money despite the duo local government areas are hardly demarcated”.
Another rider who don’t want his name media said, “we equally pay N6500 yearly dues to the state government through the ministry of Transportation.
They also pointed accusing fingers Jimeta Marshall a Yola North local government council security outfit in the who always compelled them for the payment these money alleging that receipt are some times paid at will.
Also one David Samuel lamented that, “we blocked this roads because we leant that the governor will commission a project through the road they barricaded.
Samuel also stated that “the blockage of these major roads especially where Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri will pass through and not only hear our complain but to bail us out by addressing the problem”
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Barr. Asiyale Ananze said the ministry introduced ICT registration of all tricycle owners and riders in the state to reduce security challenges involving tricycle popularly known as (Keke Napel).
He noted that, “By this and what we did, we asked them to buy a form for N1000 and another N3000 which was paid to the Board of Internal Revenue, the N3000 is an annual fee for all tricycle in the state, it is not true that we collected N6,500.
According to Ananze, *Since we introduced this ICT registration of Tricycles, we have been able to trace and recovered items stolen from their passengers by criminal shila boys”.
As at the time of filling this report, when our reporter visits the Jimeta Marshall office as at the time of the report it was discovered that the office have been destroyed by angry Keke riders.
However, efforts to meet with the Jimeta Marshall Commander proved abortive as they are in a meeting with the chairman, Yola North,
Meanwhile, the Adamawa state police command commissioner S.K Akande decline comment.
