How Aba Tricycle Operators Sabotage COVID-19 Safety Measures
By Orientdaily
Failure of commercial tricycle operators in Aba to observe safety measures put in place by the Abia state government to checkmate the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state has been blamed for the high rate of COVID-19 cases in the commercial city.
Orient Weekend gathered that despite safety directives issued by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led administration, the tricycle operators continued to carry five passengers, three passengers on the back seat, two besides the driver.
The flouting of the government directive on COVID-19 social distancing, this paper gathers was not as a result of ignorance but desperation by the operators to make money off commuters.Recall that Governor Ikpeazu, had earlier in April issued directives to Keke operators in the state to carry maximum of two passengers per trip- two behind and the operator making it three as part of social distancing protocol.
Mini buses, popularly called “Oke Bekee” were equally directed to carry only five passengers per trip, while 14-seater buses were to carry maximum of 8 passengers per trip with none in front except the driver. The inter-state bus parks or terminals were equally mandated to procure and deploy digital thermometers for screening of passengers, as well as provide hand sanitizers and hand washing materials for use, by all staff and passengers or risk immediate closure.
Shortly after issuing the directive as part of the lockdown measures to forestall further spread of the virus across the state, also set up COVID-19 enforcement task force to ensure strict compliance to the directives.Governor Ikpeazu would later on April 26 impose a dusk to dawn (6.00pm to 6.00am) curfew in the state as the crisis escalates nationwide and directed enforcement agents to drag defaulters of the lockdown directive to newly established mobile courts for prosecution.
Ikpeazu had, while appealing for understanding from citizens groaning under the pains of the lockdown explained that the stringent measures were imposed to checkmate the spread of the deadly virus in the state.Shortly after the government announced relaxation of the lockdown in early May, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, explained in a statement that commercial tricycle (Keke) operators and all other intra-state commercial transporters would be allowed to operate with some degrees of restrictions provided they obey the measures including use of face masks.
“While keke operators can only carry two passengers at every point in time, mini buses and other buses must not seat more than two persons per row with all passengers including the driver wearing face masks,” Ezem said.
Why we flout order Checks by this paper in the commercial city of Aba indicates that two months after the lockdown was eased, keke-operators have continued to flout COVID-19 safety measures, with even face masks’ wearing already becoming a thing of the past especially for passengers and pedestrians.
While some that spoke to the reporter blamed government for not doing enough to help the situation, others said that there is nothing like coronavirus in Nigeria not to talk of Abia state.Obinna, a keke operator who hails from Okigwe, blamed hardship for the flouting of the government safety directives.
“When COVID-19 started, we thought that it would be over in a matter of a month or so, just like Ebola; but the situation is not getting any better. Now look at it from March till today and count the number of months we have suffered under this so called virus.
I have a family I feed and cannot continue to give them excuses each time I return.”We have expected government to intervene and do something such as palliatives but they don’t but instead force hardship on us because they have other means of survival and a way to get us. Government should find a way to solve the issue before somebody will die of hunger,” he said.For Chinedu, another tricycle operator from Isuochi, who plies Obohia – Park axis, the government directive was impracticable. “There is no way I will bring out my keke and carry only two passengers.
That is not possible instead let the police chase me round the whole Aba town, I am equal to the task.“Since I started operating tricycle, I have never carried less than the normal passenger except there is no passenger to carry”, he added.Keke operator, who identified himself as George, claimed that he disregarded the government’s directive because COVID-19 is not in Aba and even in Nigeria. “All the stories are politics and a way to steal our money. If they say someone has COVID-19, let them bring such person let us see or even bring those they said have died let us see.This paper, however, discovered that some keke operators who operates from park to ogbo hill observe the safety measures as instructed by the state government especially in the area of the number of passengers to be carried on single trip but do not take serious the issue of face mask.
Fare Hike:A resident of Ogbohill, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told our reporter that following the COVID-19 order of 2 passengers only, tricycle operators are now forced to heap the full weight of their loss on the passengers as they (passengers) are now charged double of the usual fare. According to him, a drop from park to Ogbo hill is charge N100 while at times N150, obohia to either Ehi road or park is charged N100 instead of the usual N50 for the trip.
He said further, “From park to Nkwo Obohia used to be N50 for the four occupants of the seats but now passengers are forced to part with N100 even when the Keke operators carry four passengers as against the instructed two passengers”.
Chinyere Udensi, who works as sales lady at Ehi road but lives at Nkwo Ngwa told our reporter that following the hike in transportation fare within the town, she can barely afford to enter tricycle again.”Since the increase in the drop price, I don’t use keke again. I now prefer trekking so that I don’t waste all my salary enjoying keke.
My salary is not more than ten thousand naira and you calculate how much it will cost me to transport myself a month. The only thing I do is to wake up early so that I don’t have problem with my oga”.Another shop owner at cemetery market simply identified as mama Ejima, told our reporter that the price has been a burden on her since the emergence of COVID-19 lockdown especially the period when the market operations functioned for restricted days and hours. ” we barely sale anything but we have to return to our homes and pay for transports in the process.
We pay N100 coming and N100 going as against the usual N50″.When contacted, the chairman Aba Tricycle Riders Integrated Welfare Association (ATRIWA), Barr St. Moses Ogbonna denied the allegations adding that the operators under his leadership had been complying with the government order.
“Tricycle operators under ATRIWA have not been flouting the state government order except you are talking about other unions in Aba”.
However, efforts made to contact Comr. Eugene Eze-job of SATOA proved futile as his line was not reachable.
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