By Tony Okafor, Awka
Thousands of tricycle (keke) operators in Anambra State have accused officials of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of exploiting them through what they described as inflated rider’s permit charges, threatening to shut down operations and stage a mass protest if the alleged practice continues.
The operators, under the umbrella of the Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF), alleged that although the state government approved a rider’s permit fee of N5,250, VIO officials were demanding between N9,500 and N15,000 before issuing the permit.
They appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene, alleging that they were being subjected to multiple taxation despite the governor’s assurance that keke riders would not be burdened with additional charges after paying their statutory taxes.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of AKDF, Comrade Ifeanyi Okafor, said the forum had reached an agreement with the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Edwards Ibuzo, that the rider’s permit would cost N5,250.
He, however, alleged that members who visited VIO offices to obtain the permit were confronted with higher charges.
“We agreed with the Commissioner for Transport that the permit would cost N5,250, but our members are being asked to pay between N12,000 and N15,000. When we went to the VIO office ourselves, we were told the fee was N9,500,” he alleged.
According to him, operators in Onitsha and Awka were variously asked to pay N12,500 and N15,000 before they could obtain the permit.
Okafor further alleged that applicants were directed to obtain an ASIN number and complete online registration before returning for biometric capturing, a process he claimed attracted additional charges.
“They told us to get an ASIN number first. Some of our members don’t even have one despite paying government taxes regularly. We were told to register online, and whoever does it would charge us. After that, we were told approval and biometric capturing would cost another N2,500,” he said.
He described the development as exploitation, insisting that government agencies should process the permit without imposing extra financial burdens on operators.
According to him, repeated efforts to meet the Commissioner for Transport to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, prompting the union’s executive to resolve that members would not pay anything above the agreed N5,250.
“The government introduced the permit, so it should ensure it is processed at the approved cost. We will not pay any illegal charges,” he declared.
Okafor accused the state government of overtaxing keke operators, saying many entered the business because of economic hardship rather than choice.
“Nobody grows up dreaming of becoming a keke rider. It is a poverty alleviation means for many families. Instead of helping us, they keep introducing more taxes and charges,” he lamented.
He warned that if enforcement begins without addressing their complaints, keke operators would embark on a statewide strike and peaceful protest.
“If Governor Soludo fails to call the VIO to order and they begin enforcement, we will withdraw our services and protest. We will not allow anyone to exploit us,” he said.
Another operator, Mr. Vincent, also accused government agencies of subjecting keke riders to multiple taxation while offering little or no support.
“We pay taxes, yet some payments don’t even reflect. Nobody bought keke for us. Most riders are struggling under hire-purchase agreements, yet government keeps introducing fresh charges,” he alleged.
He claimed that many operators live in poor conditions despite paying huge sums to government.
“No keke rider owns a mansion. Many of us pay more to government than some property owners. This permit is simply another way of collecting more money from poor people,” he said.
Vincent further alleged that a VIO official justified the additional charges as “logistics.”
“What logistics? They are already paid salaries to do this job. We will only pay N5,250. Anything above that is unacceptable. If they come for enforcement, we will all come out in protest,” he warned.
The operators appealed to Governor Soludo to investigate the allegations, harmonise the permit process and stop what they described as multiple taxation and exploitation of tricycle operators.
However, reacting to the allegations in a post shared with our correspondent, Fidelis Nnadi faulted the claims, attributing the controversy to what he described as a lack of understanding of the legal and policy framework governing road transport operations in the state.
According to him, the approved regulatory fee for the rider’s permit is N7,250, but the Ministry of Transport had, in the interest of keke operators, allowed them to pay N5,250.
Nnadi alleged that the Anambra Keke Drivers Forum had consistently opposed the implementation of the rider’s permit policy and accused the association of making unverified allegations against VIO officials.
He argued that rather than accusing VIO personnel of corruption, the association should first establish whether any official actually demanded extra money and under what circumstances.
Nnadi further stated that the Ministry of Transport had already provided an online application and payment platform for the permit, stressing that payments are not made exclusively through VIO offices.
He questioned why the association could not simply direct its members to use the online platform instead of approaching VIO officials.
He urged the leadership of the association to stop actions capable of undermining what he described as a safety and security policy designed to regulate keke operations in Anambra State.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Vehicle Inspection Office and the Anambra State Ministry of Transport had yet to issue an official response to the allegations by the keke operators.
