BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

Despite its ban from the major roads over eight months ago in Lagos state, tricycles popularly called Keke NAPEP, is becoming a major means of transportation in the state despite major challenges the operators are facing.

Within a few years of its operation in the state, the Keke has become a reliable shuttle due to the ever present gridlock on Lagos roads.

However, there remain severe treats to its survival.

The state government has reiterated several times that tricycles are not part of Lagos transport system but  has also clearly debunked the allegations that it has banned its operations saying operators are only restricted.

The issues confronting the operations of tricycles became so severe that thousands of its riders had to  unionise last July, setting the stage for an end to years of strife that often left  many riders dead  as rival associations repeatedly clashed for supremacy.

The association was called TWAN, an acronym for Tricycle Workers Association of Nigeria.

Chairman of the 31-member committee set up to ease the unification process, Comrade Abiodun Akin Shoda, stated that the setting up of the union was historic and they have all unified.

“The Lagos State Government wants us to be one. We are one now” he said

Meanwhile, government’s interest in who runs the union remains a big issue.

Recently, members of TWAN, had to appeal to governor,  Babatunde Fashola to come to their aid by calling the state Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa to reconsider the imposition of one Odusanya as care taker chairman of their association.

The imposition, TWAN members said might lead to further destabilizing of the associations.

According to a member, Mr. Lateef Waheed, the present care taker chairman, even threatened to dissolve the more than 104 branches with  2,000 units, with a determination to expel some members.

Restriction challenge

This is about the greatest challenge of operators.

Section 3 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012 stipulates that ‘No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule 11 of this Law’. According to him, motorcycles and tricycles were only ‘RESTRICTED’ on 475 roads out of 9100 roads in the state including highway and bridges.The Lagos government’s stance has not changed on tricycles which is definitely affecting  the passengers.

In some areas in Lagos, residents are totally opposed to tricycles operation. In a forum, the Commissioner of Transportation, Kayode Opeifa said that tricycles are banned on Victoria Island, Government Reserved Area, GRA, Ikeja and Ikoyi due to request from residents.

Opeifa who said that the restriction is well known to tricycle operators in the state, urged them to continue their operations in unrestricted areas in accordance with the Law.