Operations of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Keke riders, were on Monday and Tuesday, destructed by protest by the riders over the jacking up of the fee for the profiling/revalidation of Keke riders in Delta State to N12,500.
In implementing the profiling/revalidation of Keke riders, the state government had through the Ministry of Transport, perked the cost, which is a once-off payment at N7,500 covering Identity Card, Sticker/Back Code and Reflective Jacket.
It was part of measures to curb security challenges associated with their operations such as robbery and kidnapping across the state.
Dissatisfied with the extra charges by the Union, most Keke operators in the Warri area on Tuesday continued their protest against the hike and withdrew their services.
On Wednesday, normalcy was restored as the protesting Keke operators stayed off the roads and streets in Warri and Effurun, allowing for free conveyance of passengers who were stranded for the two days the protest lasted.
Two days of the protest witnessed a near collapse of law and order following some chaotic scenes which almost snowballed into crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, is yet to comment on the development despite calls put across to his MTN mobile line, which kept giving the busy tone.
Also, the President of the Delta State Commercial Motorcycle & Tricycle Association (COMTOA), Chief Godday Obi-Nzete, has not responded to a call for clarification on the matter.
