The Abia State government has announced restrictions on the operation of tricycles (Keke Napep) and motorcycles in a bid to curb pickpocketing and other criminal activities.
Effective July 1st, 2024, the vehicles will be banned from operating between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am daily within Aba and Umuahia.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, made the announcement during a press conference following a meeting with stakeholders in the state’s transport sector.
“A lot of issues have been reported about criminal activities. By the reports that are available to security agencies, most of these robberies, most of these attacks are happening in the evening hours, late night hours and very early morning hours in the cities.
“The state government has decided to curb the operations of the criminals who use this means of transport to perpetrate criminal activities,” Prince Uzor said.
The Commissioner further announced the formation of a committee led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (Rtd), to oversee the mandatory registration of all tricycles, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles in the state. According to him, this initiative aims to identify legitimate operators for security purposes.
“The state government also believes that it has to know exactly who is operating within our environment
“And so by that reason all commercial vehicles , Okada, tricycles called Keke, mini buses, full buses, whatever anybody is using to run as commercial vehicles will now be enumerated and registered so that in the instances of criminal activities the government would know whose vehicle is responsible,” the Commissioner said.
Nwachukwu assured the public that the government consulted with Keke and motorcycle union leaders and urged residents to comply with the restrictions. He also confirmed that a review of the policy will take place when necessary, and that security agencies have been informed of the new regulations.