…As state government proscribes ASATOA, approves ATRIWA, TOAN as replacement
Following so many negative reports associated with tricycle operations in Abia State, state government has proscribed the Abia State Amalgamated Tricycle Association (ASATOA).
A statement by the Abia State Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Ekele Nwaohamuo, named the two approved unions to replace ASATOA as; Aba Tricycle Riders Integrated Welfare Association (ATRIWA) and Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN).
Recall that so many publications about kidnapping and armed robbery in Aba, the commercial hub of the state and Umuahia, the state capital have been associated with tricycle operators who are yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also announced a change in the colours of tricycles in the state stressing that henceforth; all those under ATRIWA will have White and Green colour while those in TOAN will have White, Green and Brown.
Nwaohamuo explained all tricycle operators in both Aba and Umuahia are given 14 days from the day of the announcement to change to the above respective colours.
He went further to say that the government has the right to increase further tricycle unions or ban and proscribe anyone who will fully flouts its orders. He added that the Transport Ministry would upon registration of the association(s) communicate the code of conduct to the association as announced by Government.
Reacting to the new development, Barr. Saint Moses Ogbonna, Chairman of ATRIWA, said that the renewal of the right of the union which once in operation some years back is a prove that its aim of giving tricycle operators a better ground to operate and earn better living is about to be achieved.
Ogbonna thanked Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, for taking the bold step of proscribing ASATOA which he said suffocated the tricycle operators with unnecessary levies coupled with inability to protect the operators from different harassments.
He described the previous working conditions of the tricycle operators as man’s inhumanity to fellow man, stressing that with the coming of ATRIWA, all harassments and unnecessary levying of the hardworking tricycle operators is now dead and buried as only government approved levies will be paid.
The ATRIWA Chairman also disclosed that his union has mapped out strategies to prevent the usual criminal activities being associated with tricycle.
“Because of the way tricycle was being run, you see a lot of criminal activities being associated with tricycle. Kidnapping, armed robbery etc.”
“You begin to wonder how an association that has means of identification, with different security policies that have been introduced to help the situation, amidst police checkpoints everywhere, yet the story is the same.
“Now, what we need is surveillance. What you’ll see is a data base for tricycle operators, monitor them, if possible put trackers in all the tricycles.
“So that the operation of the tricycle will be seen, monitored and controlled not only for revenue purpose, but for security purposes which is very important and that’s what ATRIWA is here to do.”
