Leadership of Abia Tricycle Operators Disassociates Self from Planned Biometrics Capturing Exercise
By Benjamin Kalu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government, again announced the commencement of the biometric capturing of tricycles operators, known as Keke Napep in the state.
The exercise, according to the State ministry of transport, is to be coordinated by leaders of various tricycle unions in the State in accordance with the directive of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The permanent secretary, of the ministry of transport, Ijeoma Okere made this known in Umuahia, adding that rider’s permit would be issued after the exercise biometric capturing.
All the Keke riders In state, according to the statement, are advised to obey the directive in their own interest as enforcement of the policy would start immediately in the State.
But some of the Keke Napep riders, in the state, who spoke to some journalists on the proposed biometric exercise, accused the leadership of the tricycle unions, for allegedly colluding with the present State Government to make money from them, they argued that, now that the present State administration is about to leave office, that the policy is nothing, but only to take money from them.
Also speaking, Comrade Chief Eddy Anyawu who is the state secretary of one of the tricycle unions in the State, known as Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria, TOWAN, said that the leadership of the association, don’t have any idea of the such government plans towards the biometric capturing for it members.
Comrade Chief Anyawu stated that, the out going present administration in the state, plans to start up such biometric capturing is out of their knowledge, therefore disassociate the leadership of the union, from such plans.
He said that no any of their members is aware of it, stating that to them, is improper, and he recollected that, some time in 2020, the State Government came up with such idea, but along the lines, they stopped, for one reason or the other, now that they want to start up again, and none of their members is aware, saying that, he thinks there is a mistake some where,
Chief Eddy Anyawu who said he is in support of the biometric capturing, but coming at this time, is at the wrong time, since the present administration is about to leave the office, he now called on the present administration, to look at it, no matter the aim is to take the data
of all Keke NAPEP operators in state, with a view of maintaining security and orderliness in Abia State.
