Tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, again staged a peaceful protest in front of the Abia State Government House, Umuahia.
The transporters, numbering about 75, said they were at the seat of power over persistent problems with accessing the online ticket payment system recently introduced by the state government.
Tuesday’s protest is the second within a week as they did the same last Thursday.
The operators, who parked their tricycles on the two flanks between the UBA junction and Zenith Bank areas, formed a crowd in front of the government house.
Some of the Keke NAPEP men, Okwuchi Zubi, Onyedikachi Matthew and Chibuzor Uguru, among others, alleged that they were being harassed by the ticket enforcement agents and some other touts because of the issue.
“Last week, they first told us that the online ticket had been suspended temporarily. The next day, we were told that the portal is still working but many of us are still finding it using the portal”, said Uguru.
They further appealed to the state government to solve the network challenges being experienced in the scheme, as they were always ready to buy the tickets.
Policemen at the government house were seen calming the Keke NAPEP men down.
The Deputy Governor, Ikechuckwu Emetu, had told tricycle operators in the State on Saturday to continue using the online ticket payment portal.
The deputy governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Eke Mba, advised the Keke NAPEP operators to contact the relevant government revenue agency for further assistance on how to go about the daily ticket payment, adding that their compliance with the directive would save them discomfort.
At the time of filing this report, the Keke men were still in front of the government house, demanding that top government officials address them before they dispersed.
