Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has urged tricycle riders and other road transport unions in the state to assist the government in its efforts to fight crime by using their business to reveal any useful information that would enable it to track down criminals.
The governor made the request while receiving delegations of the Enugu State Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union, popularly known as Keke NAPEP and the State Executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at the Government House, Enugu.
The two unions were on separate visits to the governor to pledge their support and congratulate him on his emergence as governor and as well inform him of the challenges they are facing in the state which border on administration and the untoward acts by “a group of restive youths under the aegis of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria”.
Gov. Ugwuanyi who thanked the unions for their continuous support and the peaceful manner they have conducted themselves in their dispute with the transport group, assured them of his administration’s resolve not to tolerate any form of undue harassment or imposition of illegal levies on the people of the state by anyone or group in the guise of revenue collection.
He advised those perpetrating such acts to desist from them as the government will not hesitate to enforce the wrath of the law against them no matter who they may be.
On their request for appointment into his administration, the governor equally told the unions to meet with the Taxi Drivers’ Association to agree and nominate one of them for appointment as his Special Assistant on Transport, in order to give them a sense of belonging and ensure a smooth and effective relationship between them and the government, as part of his agenda for participatory democracy.
“ It is important that I let you know that we have extended our hands of fellowship to the transport union, Keke Napep and Taxi drivers to meet and agree on who will be the SA on Transport to the Governor, to open a channel of communication between you and the government.
“Enugu is one of the safest states in the country. I believe you will use your business to further enhance the security of this state by revealing any information that will be useful to the government in this regard”, the governor said.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Tricycle Riders, Comrade Ikah Benjamin Ejiofor and his counterpart in the Road Transport Union, Chief Joseph Ugwu praised the governor for his leadership qualities and appealed to him to prevail on Vehicle Inspection Officers (V.I.O), other government agencies and the transport group, RTEAN, to stop the incessant harassment and illegal levies aimed at exploiting of the commercial road users in the state.
