By Ajuwa Victor
Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in Delta State staged a mass protest on Tuesday over what they called the sharp increase in cost of their daily tickets and annual stickers, leaving commuters stranded in Warri, Effurun, and Udu Local Government Areas of the State.
The riders, popularly known as Okada and Keke operators, grounded activities as they refused to operate, forcing many residents to walk long distances to work and other destinations.
Speaking on the development, a protesting rider, Emmanuel Akpore, lamented the over 200 per cent increment, saying, “We are struggling to survive in this harsh economy, and now they want to make things worse for us. How do they expect us to cope with N1,000 daily tickets from N400 and yearly stickers jumping from N3,000 to N12,500? This is unbearable.”
Another rider, Musa Bello, decried the economic burden on operators, stating, “Apart from feeding our families, bike and tricycle parts are now very expensive.
“This hike is unjustifiable. We are calling on the Delta State Government to review these charges before we are pushed out of business.”
The ripple effects of the protest was felt by many commuters, including a mother of two, Charity Emeke, who expressed frustration over the situation. “I was shocked when I came out this morning and couldn’t get a bike. I had to walk with my children for a long distance before a neighbor helped me. The government should consider both the riders and commuters in these decisions.”
It was gathered that the N12,500 sticker fee covers the cost of an identity card, waste basket, customized jackets, and profiling for security purposes.
As at the time of filing this report, the Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, was unavailable for comments.
Meanwhile, tension rose as some striking riders reportedly harassed their colleagues who attempted to work, forcing them to discharge passengers and join in the demonstration.
