Proposed Ban on Keke Napep: Lagosians Cry Out.

The Association of Tricycle Riders in Lagos has hinted Lagos masses that the government has proposed a total ban on tricycles in all Lagos roads like it did to Okada in 2012. While Lagosians are trying to get used to the absence of the fast means of transport in the heat of traffic by resolving to the use of tricycle, there is the possibility that the available alternative might also be thwarted.

 The government systematically put a stop to the movement of Keke Napep around Alausa, Ogba , Awolowo road, Awolowo way and other core market environment around Ikeja in 2013, after an amicable agreement with the union on the ground to “protect the lives and properties of the state”.

An official of the Association of Ikeja Chapter Mr Jamiu Olaopa said the initial agreement that was made with the government, was to keep the tricycles away from parts of the major roads especially those that linked to the State Secretariat in Alausa but they can operate on other road diversions and links within the area and the association ensured that the restrictions was obeyed to the latter. The State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa was quoted to have said the tricycle “can run as an alternative to Okada for those who are regular bike transporters”.

The news to ban the tricycle completely, however came as a shock to the association when the same Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Opeifa stated during the Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa that “the state government had held several meetings with the unions on the development, and “they have agreed to stay away from all roads.”

One of the Keke Napep riders, who pleaded to be anonymous, told Naij News that he sold his Okada and added an Asusu corporative contribution to purchase his Keke, he lamented about how hard it would be for him to feed his family of four and a sick mother who was brought to him from his home town.

Mr Paul Ekeh is also a Keke rider who is a retiree and has used up his gratuity to purchase his tricycle. He complained that he has two children in the tertiary institution who are sponsored by the income he is making from the Keke. He assured the state government that the Keke riders are responsible, law abiding and tax paying residents of Lagos who will not add issues with the government and as such will not appreciate the intention of the government to renege its promise in keeping the use of Keke operational within the initially agreed area.

Some of the roads tricycle operation was initially outlawed are; all roads in Victoria Island, Government Residential Area, GRA Ikeja and all roads in Ikoyi. It is also banned on Awolowo road, Awolowo way, Alausa and all major roads in Surulere Local Government. The Commissioner for Transportation however claimed that the Safety Act of 2012 also prohibits the use of tricycle and that the prohibition was not a newly proposed policy. He went ahead to warn those who are selling their motorcycle to buy the tricycle not to do so for the same law has outlawed both means of transportation in Lagos state. He added that it was after the law was gazetted that the state government allowed tricycle to operate on some of these roads because vehicles available in those roads weren’t enough to convey the passengers plying the road. He also informed the riders that Keke Napep is not a replacement for motorcycle.

When Mr Opeifa was questioned on how the government intend to convene the large numbers of workers in Lagos to their respective place of work when it is a sure premise that the vehicle available cannot serve the populace. He said that the state now has enough Bus Rapid Transport, BRT and LAGBUS buses, as well as taxis on these roads; the tricycle won’t be needed anymore. He also added that the federal government has made provision for federal Assisted Mass Transit that ply virtually all the service roads in Lagos.

Speaking with the regular commuters of Keke Napep, Mr Odion Osemudhaimmhen who is a business man at the computer village said the advantage of the tricycle over taxi and buses cannot be overemphasized. He identified the flexibility of the device to move around narrowed places that buses can’t move around the market. He also argued that Keke Napep is cheaper as a means of transportation to other available ones that the government is recommending.

Mrs Vivian Itamoh is also a banker who works around Oshodi-Expess and she said she prefers Keke Napep to buses or taxi because it can manoeuvre itself within residential areas as a short-cut in the heat of traffic.

Nevertheless, one of the advocates for the ban, AJoke Ogundimu, 32 said that she was once robbed while she was in the Keke Napep. She said some group of people ran towards the tricycle she boarded and stretched in their hand to snatch her purse and the phone of the other commuter, sitting close to her. She believed that the robbery was possible to carry out for them due to the porous structure of the Keke and therefore implored that the state government enforce the total ban from all roads

The chairman of the tricycle association Ikeja chapter, in a phone conversation, has however assured both riders and commuter that his administration is still deliberating on the matter and he believes the government will resolve to regulate the existing system such that both parties will be happy. He also dismisses the rumour that the Keke Napep riders are planning to stage a protest against the state over the issue.