CONDEMNATION TRAILS ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT’S BAN OF KEKE, MOTORCYCLES AND TIPPER-TRUCKS IN SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS



… It lacks objectivity, a violation of human rights -Inter Solidarity
… It will exacerbate unemployment and insecurity – NYAN
Enugu: Condemnations have trailed the ban of Tricycles, motorcycles and Tipper trucks in some Local Government Areas of Enugu State as a result of the spate of killings in the state.
In their separate reactions, Comrade Osmond Ugwu, President, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (Inter Solidarity) / Convener, Coalition for Civil Society and Human Rights as well as Ambassadors Gabriel Odi and Joseph Okafor, Speaker and Clerk, respectively of the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), Enugu State condemned the ban, urging the State Government to urgently rescind the decision.
Recall that the Enugu State Government, on Friday, in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, banned motorcycles, Tricycles and Tipper trucks in Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas as well as substantial parts of Enugu South Local Government Area.

In an interview with our correspondent, Comrade Ugwu described it as, “a very wrong approach of solving security problems.
“It is a very wrong approach of solving security problems. The ban is a violation of the rights of the people which will not in any way solve the problem of insecurity raging in the state. It’s a decision that is not founded on any objectivity and indeed cannot be accepted by the people.
“That particular decision has created serious problems for citizens of the concerned Local Government Areas, Nkanu East and West. As a matter of fact, it is not a properly guided decision.
“We condemn the wasting of lives by unknown people. However, we believe that this one that occurred on election day has political undertone. As such, we urge the security agencies to go underground and fish out those involved.
Going further, Ugwu queried the rational behind the decision
“The idea of banning keke or Okada or Tipper, what do they want to achieve by that?
“What has Tipper got to do with this? Even if this decision was a result of speculation that keke and Okada are used in committing crimes, I don’t know how Tipper comes into it”
“Even if keke or Okada or Tipper was used in committing crimes, does it mean that everything about keke, Okada and Tipper should be banned in those areas? We’re all aware that other vehicles (jeeps) have been used in committing high profile crimes in Enugu State, why has the Government not banned jeeps as well?
Again, he lamented that the poor Enugu State citizens in the affected rural areas will be subjected to untold hardships:
“Most of the keke and Okada riders are on hire purchase, what will now be their fate? Again, Okada and keke are the major means of transportation in those areas. How will the poor masses cope with such a decision?
“We have made recommendations to the State Government on Integrated Police System, where there will be Police posts in at least every ward, working in collaboration with Neighborhood Watches, properly equipped”
Finally, he urged the State Government to reconsider the decision to save the residents of the affected areas from untold hardship.
The NYAN position was contained in a statement issued on Friday, which read thus:
“National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), Enugu State as one of the foremost Youth platform in Enugu State, committed to ensuring that policies and programmes of Government serves the best interest of the masses and the State calls on the State Government to reconsider its decisions on the ban of Tricycle, Motorcycle and Tipper Truck in Nkanu East, Nkanu West and some part of Enugu South Local Government Areas, on the following grounds.
- “Admittedly, the three Local Government affected by the ban have witnessed spike in insecurity which has claimed lot of innocent lives. However, according to eye witness reports, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes have always operated with a Toyota Sienna Vehicle and not any of the above banned means of transportation.
- “The ban will further exacerbate the level of unemployment and crime in the State. Many of the virile youths in these areas affected are mostly transporters and making them idle with this ban without providing an alternatives means of livelihood exposes them more to criminal activities.
- “The stress and hardship this will cause on the social and economic life of the people is too great to imagine! Farmers will find it difficult to get their goods to market, traders will spend heavily to move goods to their preferred destination and office workers will find it difficult to get to their homes and offices on time.
We, as an Assembly discountenance this ban and advise the State Government to reconsider it decision as a responsive Government and employ other security measures in combating crimes in these areas!”