Tricycle riders in Enugu State took to the streets on Friday in a bold demonstration against what they described as relentless extortion, harassment, and corruption orchestrated by the Chairman of the Amalgamated Tricycle Riders Union, Mr. Kingsley Edeh, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor.
The aggrieved riders accused the Ministry of Transportation of colluding with the union leadership to impose an illegal N200 daily charge, inflating their daily levies to N750—far above the officially approved N550 announced by the Enugu State government.
Gathering at Edinburgh in Enugu North Local Government Area, the protesters passionately called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and hold those responsible accountable.
Speaking to reporters, Anike Calistus, one of the protesters, decried the relentless harassment they endure at the hands of the Ministry of Transport’s task force, allegedly acting in concert with the union chairman.
“Every day, we struggle to make ends meet, yet they bleed us dry with illegal levies. They only care about their gain, not our welfare,” Calistus lamented.
The protesters did not mince words in their demands. They insisted on the immediate removal of both the union chairman and the transport commissioner, citing corruption and abuse of power.
Adding weight to their grievances, SaharaReporters uncovered that the Industrial Court had previously ruled against the collection of dues by the Riders Transport Union in Enugu, citing widespread irregularities. Yet, despite the court’s ruling, the illegal levies persist.
Frustrated by the continued extortion, the protesters urged the state government to enforce transparency and put an end to what they called an oppressive system that exploits hardworking tricycle operators.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State government is yet to respond to the protesters’ allegations. However, pressure is mounting for Governor Mbah to take decisive action before tensions escalate further.
The unfolding drama raises critical questions: Will the Enugu State government step in to protect its tricycle operators from systemic exploitation, or will their cries for justice fall on deaf ears?
PIONEER NEWS 