Of keke Operators, Traffic Enforcement Officers and Agboros in the Capital City.

Editorial

Despite series of transformational policies and strategies mapped out by successive police administration to restore discipline and orderliness in the  Nigeria Police Force, it appears that some men on uniform have always found ways of scheming through to carry out their sharp practices for whatever reasons.
 Sequel to the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Abubakar as the Acting Inspector General of Police January this year, before he was subsequently confirmed for the top job, checkpoints all over the country were turned to loot-points where police built barricades to extort money from commercial drivers at public glare.
 The brazen impunity in which the men on uniform promoted corruption in the country at  various checkpoints in such a way that commercial drivers were left with no other alternative than complying, was not just alarming but disheartening as the nation’s image was waning. The situation was so deplorable making many Nigerians wonder if corruption was legalized in Nigeria.
 Thanks to the ban placed on motorcycles late last year. Hitherto it was if some policemen were always clamoring to be posted to Uyo on the premise that there was enough ‘business opportunities’ in the city.
 It could be recalled that policemen were always spotted in almost every junction waiting to catch their prey, the motorcycle operators for likely offences of wrong parking, non-compliances with the directive of putting on helmet, lack of licenses etc which it was believed most of them (the policemen) never did it for reasons of maintaining law and other but for selfish motives.
 It was however believed that the sharp practices that transpired between the police and the motorcycle operators would give way to sanity when government announced the ban on motorcycles in Uyo capital city but sadly it was not known that  the situation was yet to change.
 The commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, made its invasion to Akwa Ibom State, specifically Uyo early this year to replace the outlawed motorcycles(Okada) and satisfy the transportation needs of residents of Uyo capital city.
 Amidst the cries, hunger, poverty and unemployment the ban had left behind in the city those affected by the ban finally came to terms with reality, borrowed  money and ventured into the keke business. While many engaged themselves in  thoughts of how to raise money or get the tricycle through a hire-purchase arrangement, many engaged in idle and gruesome plans.
Keke business, like any other business, has started growing and many operators have no regrets getting involved yet some greedy persons in uniform and lazy chaps have  devised ways to exploit the unsuspecting operators.
 No thanks to the recklessness and stubbornness often exhibited by most commercial drivers and operators of public transit services by flouting traffic rules and committing other traffic offences which most times bring untold consequences on the culprits.
Most times  innocent and erring commercial road users are always victims of circumstance to the men on uniform and local touts(Agboros)  who go with the name of  ‘revenue collectors’ to bully, victimize and extort money from  commercial tricycle operators at will at various locations in the capital city.  The traffic Wardens are not helping matters.  Imagine a traffic controller abdicating his duty post to struggle to arrest an alleged traffic offender, hence allowing a space for chaos by a confused and impatient road users. Much as enforcing traffic laws and collecting revenues for the local government council is not frowned at, but such has to be done orderly and according to law.
 It is now common knowledge that once the Keke riders fall into the trap of these men, sometimes at their fault and other times out of sheer innocence, they are left with two options, either to broker a deal with their supposed adversary quickly  or they risk their tricycle  being taken to the police station for corrupt intents.
The traffic wardens and Agboros are spotted on daily basis cornering Keke riders and most times negotiating bribe or manhandling the operators to get the keys of the machines for failing to reach a compromise. Most irksome of such scenes is that of the popular Ibom Connection(plaza) leading to the seat of government where one cannot predict who passes there to witness the ‘fun’ every other day.
 Inasmuch as the effort of the traffic police towards forestalling law and order in our roads among erring  road users cannot be pushed to the back doors, the truth remains that it should be carried out in a decent and humane manner that would not make their victims look like slaves in their country.
In arresting commercial drivers and tricycle operators for waiting, dropping or parking on the road side, traffic wardens and other law enforcement officers should note whether such roads affected have facilities to cater for such services as parking lots, bus stops etc.
Even in cases where motorists and other road users are at fault, Keke drivers should not be the only point of focus but other commercial drivers should be cowed into obedience of the traffic laws of the land when they are at fault.
For the traffic Warden to be vindicated of their actions, road signs should be planted at locations or points where loading or dropping of passengers is not permitted.
Importantly, concerted efforts should be made to ensure discipline of the highest order in our roads amongst men on uniform and the road users, the sharp practices and illegal business promoted in our roads should be stopped.
Only erring road users should be made to face the wrath of the law through appropriate quarters not reckless extortion of money from just any innocent person that on tricycle as some of these persons are private tricycle users.
Corrupt traffic Wardens who soil the image of the police and the nation by engaging in corrupt practices  and other shady deals with impunity should be brought to book to serve as deterrent  to others.
 The illegal exploitation and manhandling of the operators by Agboros  hiding under the guise of local government revenue collectors should be properly checked to ensure law and order on our roads especially as the state is trying to become a destination state in the country.

The youths should not allow laziness to lure them to the brisk business of Agboro to make ends meet as this would not in any way help them become responsible people in the society. 

The government’s attempt to ban Keke operators should be properly planned as done in Delta state.  There should be a good city taxi cap system such that all streets a flooded with taxi cabs to make life easy for the ordinary Akwa Ibom citizen living in and around the capital city.