By Our Correspondent
The Abia State Government has directed operators of commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke, to immediately stop operating on some major routes linking Umuahia with neighbouring towns and cities.
The directive, issued by the state government, affects Keke operations from Umuahia to Obowo, Owerri, Ohafia and Arochukwu, with the authorities ordering operators to comply with the ban with immediate effect.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, said the decision was taken as part of efforts by the government to restore sanity, order and safety on the state’s roads.
According to the commissioner, the measure is intended to address concerns surrounding the activities of tricycle operators on the affected routes and ensure safer and more orderly transportation across the state.
The government also issued a strong warning to operators who may attempt to disregard the directive.
Authorities said any Keke operator found violating the order would be arrested, while the tricycle involved would be impounded.
The warning underscores the seriousness with which the state government is treating the new transportation directive and signals that enforcement is expected to begin immediately.
The affected routes are important transportation corridors for residents and commuters travelling between Umuahia and other parts of Abia and neighbouring areas. The directive is therefore expected to generate reactions among Keke operators, passengers and other stakeholders in the transport sector.
For many residents who depend on tricycles for relatively affordable transportation, the development could lead to changes in their daily commuting patterns, particularly for passengers travelling along the affected routes.
The government, however, has urged all Keke operators and members of the public to comply with the directive, stressing the need for order and safety on the state’s roads.
The development comes as the administration of Governor Alex Otti continues to implement changes in the state’s transport sector, with road safety and traffic management remaining major areas of public attention.
While some members of the public may welcome the move as an attempt to improve safety and regulate commercial transportation, affected operators and passengers are likely to seek further clarification on the reasons behind the restrictions and possible alternative arrangements.
The state government is expected to monitor compliance across the affected routes, while transport operators have been advised to take the directive seriously to avoid confrontation with enforcement agencies.
For now, Keke operators plying the Umuahia–Obowo, Umuahia–Owerri, Umuahia–Ohafia and Umuahia–Arochukwu routes have been directed to stay off those routes as the government moves to enforce the new order.
The government has reiterated its call for cooperation from transport operators and the general public, saying compliance is necessary to achieve a safer and more orderly road transportation system in Abia State.
