Abia denies increases in tricycle operators' loading fees and ticket prices

The 3.5 km Osisioma-Ekeakpara Road, a significant entryway into the Osisioma Industrial Complex, will be reconstructed, with an official groundbreaking scheduled for this Wednesday by Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

This came as the state government said that it has not raised the loading fees or tickets for tricycle operators in the state capital of Umuahia.

According to Prince Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, the road also leads to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation depot in Osisioma. He made this statement on Monday while briefing reporters on the results of this week’s executive council meeting, which was presided by Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner said that, “that road is a very important one because it is infrastructural facilities that will drive the Osisioma Industrial Complex which the state government has started rebuilding so on Wednesday His Excellency will be at ABA to flag the road off.”

Additionally, he declared that the governor will open the 2.5 km Umuode-Bakassi Road, Aba, for rehabilitation on the same day. This event has the potential to ignite the state’s economic growth.

The commissioner also disclosed that Professor Moji Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Law Administration and Control, will be in the state on May 15 for a working visit. During her visit, she will engage with stakeholders and the business community and pay a visit to the governor.

In addition to the 25 items that the NAFDAC will supply, he stated that the state government would give 150 free CAC business certificates to Abians during the visit.

“More importantly, she will meet with stakeholders in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises sector particularly those involved in food, health supplements and the production is various medications. There’s this drive towards ensuring that there’s compliance with certain standards in all those fields to ensure that those who produce the things that people consume stick to certain standards to safeguard the lives of our people.

“During that engagement, the state government will provide about 150 free CAC registrations for Abians and that’s through the Ministry of Digital Economy and SMEs. NAFDAC has promised that they would provide 25 free CAC registrations and certifications. The State government will complement that effort by providing 150 free CAC registrations for Abians”. he stated.

In response to concerns regarding the protests by Umuahia tricycle (Keke) operators, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Advisor to the Governor on Media and Publicity, stated that neither ticket prices nor loading fees have increased for the operators.

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He emphasized the necessity for the leadership of the tricycle operators to interact with the government on any issue or policy that has an adverse effect on them, and he gave his word that the government would look into the claims.

“There is no increment of any kind. There is no loading fee. This is a new policy and I think the best thing would have been to engage the government in a discussion.

“It’s obvious they were in a hurry to go and protest. Because the government has treated them with so much compassion and kindness, it doesn’t mean that government is stupid. Don’t forget that when the governor came on board there was a tax holiday for them for months. Today, there is nothing like a loading fee. In the past, there was a loading fee. Most importantly, we will ensure that nobody is exploited.”

In his contribution, Arch. Uche Ukeje, Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, stated that the current administration is responsive and advised the tricycle operators to contact the task force that the government has established if they have any problems. He insisted that the concept behind their painting is security because the painting aligns with the tricycles’ numbers.