Keke Riders Fight Back, Petition Anambra Assembly Over Rampant Extortion Despite Governor's Directive

 

AWKA – Frustration is reaching a boiling point among tricycle (popularly known as keke) operators in Anambra State, as they rally for legislative intervention to end the unchecked extortion they claim to suffer at the hands of unauthorized tax collectors. In a move underscoring the growing discontent within the transport sector, the union of tricycle riders has formally submitted a petition to the Anambra State House of Assembly, seeking urgent relief from what they describe as “multiple illegal levies” imposed under the guise of government mandates.

The petition was read during a session convened by the House Committee on Public Petitions at the legislative complex in Awka. The riders allege that, despite a clear directive from Governor Chukwuma Soludo mandating a fixed weekly payment of ₦2,000, unofficial collectors continue to hound them for additional sums, often under threat or intimidation.

Chairman of the Tricycle Operators’ Union, Mr. Chidozie Okafor, conveyed the growing despair among members, stating that the union had previously reached out to the Commissioner for Transport in writing but received no tangible response or action. According to him, the silence of the ministry has left the riders feeling abandoned by the same government that promised to prioritize transparency and people-first governance.

"Every week, our members are forced to pay a total of ₦2,400 to faceless individuals who parade themselves as government agents," Okafor explained. "After paying the legitimate ₦2,000 levy approved by the governor, we are still being compelled to part with even more money, just to avoid harassment or in some cases, violence."

Adding weight to the chairman's claims, the union's secretary, Comrade Johnson Eze, painted a grim picture of the everyday challenges tricycle riders face. He described a system where touts return to the streets within hours of being reported to the anti-touting agency, rendering the government’s enforcement efforts ineffective at best, and performative at worst.

"We have reported these illegal collectors several times," Eze said. "Even when the anti-touting squad comes to arrest them, they are back on the road the very next day. It’s as if there are no consequences. We feel helpless and hunted."

The riders believe the proliferation of these impostors not only threatens their means of livelihood but undermines public trust in government institutions. As such, they are calling on the Anambra State House of Assembly to enact stringent measures that will eliminate multiple taxation, restore sanity in the transport sector, and shield law-abiding citizens from harassment.

In response to the allegations, the Commissioner for Transport, Mrs. Igwe Buike, who had previously appeared before the legislative committee, claimed ignorance of the ongoing extortions. Her statement came as a surprise to the tricycle union, which insists that their communication with the ministry dates back several weeks.

Lawmakers on the Public Petitions Committee have promised to review the matter thoroughly and have assured the petitioners that the Assembly will not stand idly by while citizens are exploited. A member of the committee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that there would be further hearings and possible summons to relevant agencies for clarification.

Meanwhile, residents and civil society groups continue to watch closely, viewing the tricycle riders’ case as a litmus test for the Soludo administration's commitment to law, order, and social justice.

As pressure mounts, tricycle operators across Anambra are holding on to a singular hope — that the state's legislators will hear their cries and intervene decisively to put an end to what they term "institutionalized extortion."