UMUAHIA- Over 500 tricycle operators in Umuahia,Abia state,today, blocked the road leading to the state Government House over the directive of the state government asking them pay N2,100 weekly ticket.
Vanguard gathered that the tricycle operators were paying daily tolls of N350 each until the government directed them to commence paying N2,100, weekly. They said; “It is easier for us to pay N350 daily. The weekly payment is not convenient for us because majority of us operate on hire purchase agreement. We make returns to the owners,maintain our tricycles, buy petrol at high cost and even settle the policemen and touts who extort money from us. Let the government allow those who want to pay daily or weekly. But we are saying that weekly ticket is not in the best interest of Keke riders. We prefer the daily ticket where we buy tickets daily.
Wogu ,who is the chairman of the State Harmonized taskforce,Aba zone, disclosed that the government was losing much revenue through the daily payment system where some tricycle riders only operate in the morning and evening hours to avoid the government revenue collectors during the working hours.