Uchenna Okafor Appeals for Calm Amid Protests by Tricycle Operators Over New DESTMA law

The Delta State Director General of the Taskforce and Monitoring of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), Amb. Chief Uchenna Okafor, has urged commercial tricycle operators, widely known as Keke riders, in the Warri and Sapele areas to remain calm following a significant protest on Tuesday. The protest was sparked by new traffic law instituted by the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), which operators claim threaten their livelihoods.

The unrest stems from allegations made by the Keke operators that DESTMA has enacted a contentious policy that would lead to the apprehension of tricycle drivers carrying more than three passengers.

Furthermore, operators allege that the agency is preparing to impound tricycles fitted with metal carriers or extensions, as well as those featuring side curtains or trampolines. These measures have incited considerable anger among operators, who view these actions as a direct assault on their ability to make a living.

During Tuesday’s demonstrations, tricycle operators took to the streets of Warri and Sapele, brandishing placards and leaves as symbols of their distress.

In an effort to address the situation, Uchenna Okafor convened a press briefing where he implored the demonstrators to settle their nerves and assured them that COMTOA would engage in discussions with DESTMA about the perceived injustices within the new regulations. “Keke has a union which is COMTOA; what policy you want to take, you engage the Association which knows the better language to speak to Keke or Okada drivers,” Okafor conveyed, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between the government and the operators to foster understanding and cooperation.

The Director General pointed out that the Keke operators, known for their volatile nature, require a more nuanced approach from DESTMA when implementing policy changes that affect their livelihoods. He asserted, “You don’t wake up and begin to engage. Keke operators are very volatile,” thereby shedding light on the necessity for authorities to work cooperatively with the association rather than alienating them with abrupt policy shifts.

As tensions surrounding the protest began to clear, reports indicate that calm has returned to the affected areas, with Keke operators reportedly resuming their operations while awaiting further negotiations with DESTMA. Meanwhile, local businesses, reliant on the daily influx of tricycle riders and their passengers, breathed a collective sigh of relief as the protest subsided without escalating into violence.