•Commuters, tricycle operators kick against govt decision
•Union leader disagrees with protesters

By Emem Idio

YENAGOA—THE ban on the use of side curtains in tricycles, popularly called Keke NAPEP, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by the State Government, has sparked a row between the residents and commuters on one side and government on the other.

Side curtains, a detachable makeshift flexible door, shields passengers and provides cover from sun, rain and air. Some members of the public who opposed the ban, told NDV that the removal has exposed passengers to rain, scorching sun and other atmospheric conditions.

File: Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, CVIO, in the state, Engr Paul Bepeh pasting a road-worthiness tag on a tricycle.

But, the government maintained that the decision was in the general interest of the public, stating that the measure was largely for security reasons as it has been uncovered that crimes were being perpetrated under the cover of the curtains.

Poor masses bear the brunt- Trader

A trader, Mrs. Success David, said: “The government is suffering the poor masses with their anti-people policies. The curtains usually protect us (passengers) from rain and sun. Although it was not all that conducive, but we were managing it, but now the situation has gone from bad to worse, whenever its rains, passengers are soaked because there are no curtains anymore.”

“The situation is not helping matters because we can no longer board Keke whenever it rains because it will seem as if you are on a motorcycle. We, market women, are appealing to the authorities to reconsider this policy for the sake of the suffering masses. If they say they are robbing people inside Keke, how about the taxis?” she asked.

Security agencies should do their work

A tricycle operator, Mr. Thank-God Ekom, lamented that the directive has reduced  patronage as most passengers have now refused to commute when it rains unlike before, saying:   “The ban on the use of curtains is affecting our business now because most people do not enter our Keke whenever it rains because of the exposure.”

“We are passing through a lot in the hands of the state government, police and Federal Road Safety officials; today, they will come up with one thing and tomorrow, another. In spite of the huge daily taxes that we pay, the authorities are still coming up with policies that are not encouraging our smooth operations.”

Another Keke operator, Yakubu Herbert, said the police and other security agencies should do their jobs of safe guarding the public, rather than  inconvenience members of the public with their ineffectiveness.

He fumed: “Within the streets of Yenagoa, there are police checkpoints, both day and night where they collect money from the same keke people, so what have they been doing? If they were effective, the so-called robbery inside Keke would have been checked.”

Govt acted in good faith—Perewari

However, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Koroye Perewari, said: “We have received several petitions from the young and old of how they have been robbed and disposed of their valuables inside Keke and it was collectively agreed by all stakeholders, including the unions and security agencies that all curtains be removed, as one of the measures to protect lives and properties of citizens in the state.”

Union backs govt

Also reacting, Chairman of Tricycles Operators and Owners Union, Chinedu Mba, said the decision to ban the use of side curtains was a unanimous decision taken after a stakeholders’ meeting with the state government officials, security agencies and union leaders.

“The decision was taken due to complaints by passengers and Keke operators that criminals and urchins were using the cover of Keke to perpetrate crimes and criminality. Those who are complaining are doing so out of ignorance, or maybe they are accomplices, but we did not just wake up suddenly to endorse the ban it is for the security and safety of passengers. We are calling for understanding from the members of the public.”