Strange: Ebonyi govt. refunds #3500 to Keke operators to reduce hardship, sufferings

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State government has refunded the sum of three thousand five hundred naira to over six hundred and fifty Keke riders as a way to reduce hardship and sufferings amongst the youths in the state.

Recall that the tricycle operators that  numbered over five thousand had a week ago protested along the major roads of Abakaliki over alleged extortion and multiple taxation by the agents of the state government.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the said protest the tricycle operators allegedly paralyzed businesses and other economic activities in the state.

It was learnt that it took the intervention of the state governor, Francis Nwifuru to stop the protest, and however summoned a meeting with the leaders of Keke riders and the ministry of transport, wherein he ordered for a refund of three thousand five hundred naira to the protesters.

The commissioner for transport and special projects, Mr. Igboke Emeka who briefed journalists in Abakaliki on the outcome of the meeting with the governor, reiterated the commitment of his ministry to get complete data based for all Keke riders in the state.

He said that his ministry is committed to get the complete database of all the tricycle operators as a way to checkmate crimes, kidnapping, robbery and other criminal activities in the state, especially in this festive period.

According to him: “we agreed with the leaders of the tricycle operators that we are going to get the complete database of the Keke riders. We intend to know the number of Keke operating in the state, to checkmate all forms of crimes, because we have been hearing about one chance keke operators. They were indulging 

“There is no way you can checkmate them, except if they are registered. We want to register them, so that if any of them commit any crime, we can easily  track the person with his/her number that is in our database. 

On the issue of refund of money to Keke operators, the commissioner, Igboke said: “the governor, Francis Nwifuru after in a meeting he had with us, the leadership of Keke operators and some selected protesters. He approved that the Keke riders should be refunded with the sum of #3500.

“We have started the payment four days ago, as I speak with you, close to four hundred members of the Keke riders who registered with us have been refunded in accordance with the governor’s directives.

Igboke, however, applauded the governor for his quick intervention and ensuring that there is peace and order in the state, and delivering on his campaign promises to the people through his people’s charter of needs.

One of the Keke operators, Ibiam Onu Chima who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki shortly after collecting the money from the ministry of transport and special projects, commended the governor Francis Nwifuru for keeping to his promises, and vowed to lead a campaign for the governor’s re-election is the forthcoming 2027 general election in the state.

Responding, Meso Egwu, consultant to the ministry of transport and special projects, equally commended the governor, Francis Nwifuru for approving the refund of #3500 to Keke operators, “the refund shows that he has the interest of the People at heart. We are almost through with the refund.