As a part of the measures put in place to checkmate criminal activities in the transport sector, especially among tricycle operators, the Abia State Ministry of Transport, over the weekend inaugurated a Monitoring and Enforcement Team drawn from members of the Abia State Amalgamated Tricycle Operators Association, ASATOA, Umuahia Zone, to ensure absolute sanity and regulation in the business.
Some of the mandates given them include, ensuring that only government approved tickets are sold, fishing out miscreants printing and selling fake tickets, ensuring that tricycle operators comply with the painting of Abia color, fishing out the criminal elements in their midst, among others.
Inagurating the Team at the Ministry’s headquarters,Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat, the Permanent Secretary, Elder Okechukwu Aguwa, charged them to take the job seriously to assist Government put an end to criminal activities perpetrated by fake Keke operators.
He said the State government under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is keen in sanitizing the transport sector. He however enjoined them to eschew violence in the discharge of their task and work within the armbit of the law.
Also speaking, the representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Military, and Department of State Services, DSS, CSP Akputa Chinwe, Lt.NG Kebbe and Mr. Dominic Chukwuma, respectively, informed the Team that they are not security operatives but only helping their Association to maintain peace and order.
Theycharged the team not to use the platform to cause chaos on the road but treat defaulters with humane face and bring anyone brandishing harmful objects in the course of their duty to the nearest security operative for appropriate discipline.
They assured them of their collaborative protection and support and wished them success.
Earlier, the ASATOA Chairman, Umuahia zone, Comrade Nduka Awomukwu, had introduced the team as ASATOA members appointed to carry out monitoring and enforcement duties as agreed by the Association and inline with the government directives to eradicate criminal activities in the transport system.
He disclosed that the team will be identified by two key uniform colours, red and navy blue, stating that those with red jackets are the taskforce group whereas those on navy blue jacket are the supervisors.
Awomukwu, therefore, assured the team that the Association will always protect their interest as long they abide by the rules and regulations, and solicited the encouragement of the State government to enable the team deliver.
Lending their voices, Messers Okey Ekwenye and Boniface Oleka of the VIO Departments also gave the Team professional advice to help them in the discharge of their task and promised to give me them periodic training.
Speaking on behalf of the monitoring Team, Mr. Chimeremeze Anyanwu, expressed appreciation over the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would not compromise in the discharge of their duties.
Present during the inauguration were the management staff of the Ministry and Executives of ASATOA.
