The Abia State Government has announced the restriction of the operation of tricycles and motorcycles from 7 pm to 6 am daily in Aba and Umuahia with effect from July 1, 2024.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Uzor Nwachukwu announced this at a news conference held in his office after meeting with stakeholders in the state’s transport sector.
According to the commissioner, the essence of the restriction is to secure the lives and property of law-abiding citizens and residents of the state. He said security issues such as pickpocketing and robbery have been reported recently in the state involving tricycles, hence the need to take necessary security measures to arrest the challenge.
“The state government has decided to curb the operations of the criminals who use this means of transport to perpetrate criminal activities,” Nwachukwu stated.
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 government 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.
Abia Govt restricts tricycle operations hours in Aba, Umuahia