Abia Govt, however, promised the people of the state that it would review the restriction when it becomes necessary
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Abia State Government has said movements of tricycles and motorcycles in Aba and the state capital, Umuahia will be restricted from 7pm to 6am daily with effect from July 1.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the
state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu at a news conference held after a meeting with stakeholders in the state’s transport sector.
According to him, the move became necessary following an upsurge in criminal acts such as pickpocketing and robbery which have been traced to the nefarious activities of some of the motorcyclists and tricyclists in the state.
Nwachukwu further said the essence of the restriction is to secure the lives and property of law-abiding citizens and residents of the state.
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Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the commissioner said: “In order to save the lives of Abia Citizens, especially those who are law abiding, His Excellency has decided that from the 1st of July Keke and Okada Operations will be restricted from the hours of 7pm to 6am.
“From 7pm to 6am, Keke and Okada Operations will no longer be in operation in Umuahia and ABA areas.”
He added: “The state government has decided to curb the operations of the criminals who use this means of transport to perpetrate criminal activities.”
He equally announced that a committee has been set up with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (retd) as the chairman and other government officials as members to ensure compliance to compulsory registration of all tricycles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles.
He explained that the essence is to identify the real owners or operators of such tricycles and motorcycles for security purposes.
He added that Abia govt would try to review the restriction when it becomes necessary.
Some executive members of various unions who attended the meeting said they endorsed the decision of the government as regards the restriction time.