Plateau State government has suspended tricycle, Keke NAPEP, operations in Jos/Bukuru metropolis, following the operators’ protests against a policy that made it mandatory for them to pay some charges and train before they can be issued licences.
The protest led to the invasion of the office of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, burning of one operational vehicles and vandalism of eight others. The protesters also accused the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, FRSC and the Police of extortion, which they claimed was stifling their business. The state government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services, Cornelius Shoibial, said: “Plateau State government has observed with dismay the way Keke NAPEP operators have taken laws into their hands in Jos metropolis. “Therefore, government has suspended their operations in Jos/Bukuru metropolis till further notice, commencing from Monday February 26. “The public is, hereby, advised to go about their lawful business and security operatives are to take note.” Though many residents were stranded as a result of this suspension, normalcy has, however, returned to the areas and residents were seen going about their businesses. Prior to the government’s action, what had began as a peaceful protest by tricycle operators in the Jos/Bukuru metropolis, Monday, turned violent as people got injured and FRSC and private property worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Source: Vanguard
