Prince Uzor Nwachukwu 


Abia State Government on Tuesday announces 6am - 7pm daily as operational hours tricycles and motorcycles  in Aba and Umuahia effective July 1, 2024.


The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu made the announcement at a press conference after rising from a meeting with stakeholders in the State’s transport sector.


He described the restriction as part of measures  to secure lives and property of  law abiding citizens and residents from activities of suspected criminal elements  who operate with these means of transportation


“A lot of issues have been reported about criminal activities. By the reports that are available to security agencies, most of these robberies, most of these attacks are happening in the evening hours, late night hours and very early morning hours in the cities.


“The State government has decided to curb the operations of the criminals who use this means of transport to perpetrate criminal activities.” Nwachukwu stated.


The Commissioner also announced the setting up of a committee  headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security , Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah( Rtd) to ensure compliance to compulsory registration of all commercial vehicles.


The committee  according to him would work to identify the real owners and operators of such tricycles and motorcycles for security purposes.


“The State government also believes that it has to know exactly who is operating within our environment


“And so by that reason all commercial vehicles , Okada, tricycles called Keke, mini buses, full buses, whatever anybody is using to run as commercial vehicle will now be enumerated and registered so that in the instances of criminal activities government would know whose vehicle is responsible”


The Commissioner added that Government has met with executives of the relevant Keke and motorcycle  unions and therefore urged  all Abians and residents to comply accordingly.


He noted  that government would review the restriction when it becomes necessary, even as security agents have been alerted on the development.


Also speaking, some executive members of the transport Unions including Mr. Azubuike Victor, Chairman Tricycles Union, Aba Zone, Godson Chinwotito, Chairman Tricycle Union Umuahia zone and Ugbaja Chiemela, Chairman of Motorcycles Union   applauded the government for getting them involved in the new policy.


They assured that they would mobilize their members for the enumeration and registration of their vehicles as well as comply with the time restriction accordingly.