C’River To Ban Keke-NAPEP Operations

Few years after banning commercial motorcycle operations in the Calabar metropolis, the Cross River State Government is again tinkering with the possibility of outlawing the operations of commercial tricycles in Calabar.

Mr Edem Effiom Ekong, the Special Adviser, Department of Public Transportation (DOPT) to Gov. Liyel Imoke, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with our correspondent in Calabar.

Ekong, also the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, said government would stop the operation of commercial “Keke-NAPEP’’ in Calabar if their operators continue to flout government regulations.

Our reporters recalls that commercial motorcycle operators were banned from the streets of Calabar metropolis by the state government on November 15, 2009.

Ekong said that government’s ban on commercial tricycle operation in Calabar would, however, be an option, not immediate consideration, if operators disregard government’s directives on their operations.

“Actually, if we find that it is impossible to regulate the operations of tricycles even in the suburbs that we had restricted them to operate, it will be an option for government to ban the operation of tricycles in Calabar.

“If it reaches a level where government gives a direction and then operators of commercial vehicles find it impossible to obey the regulation; then maybe an outright ban would be an option on the table.

“It is not off the table at all, but it is not an immediate consideration,’’ Ekong said.

“we expect that the tricycles will abide by the regulations that had been given to them; do not carry beyond the prescribed passengers; get an insurance; get road worthiness. He said that the DOPT will commence enforcement of regulations on commercial tricycle operation “in about two months or so’’.

Ekong also advised Local Government authorities on internal revenue generation as well as members of the public and tricycle operators on how to go about their lawful business.

“There must be other ways to source for revenue other than in areas that are not exclusive to the councils.

“My advice to them (Council authorities) is to work with us; we do not wish them any evil, we are trying to bring some order and I am sure they will appreciate.

“To the members of the public; mine is to seek for patience; there is going to be more buses and more taxis as soon as we open up the routes,’’ Ekong said.

He said that the state government would acquire a number of commercial buses to boost public transportation in Cross River.

“The State Government is going to acquire a few buses to inject into its transport system. What we need to do is to make our citizens comfortable.

“Right now, we have a firm working with us to restructure our transportation master plan. The DOPT is barely four or five years old so there is this issue of capacity building and getting it right.

“ It is better to spend a lot more time planning before execution than to commence execution and find that your plan was bad midway.

“We are structuring a proper foundation for public transportation and when the super structure is ready you will all appreciate it.