A wave of frustration swept through Delta State as commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators, popularly called Okada and Keke riders, took to the streets in protest against skyrocketing ticket and yearly sticker fees.
The demonstration, which paralyzed movement in Warri, Effurun, and Udu, left commuters stranded.
Many were forced to trek long distances to reach their workplaces, caught off guard by the sudden halt in transportation services.
The protesters decried an alarming 200 per cent increase in fees. Reports indicate that the daily ticket for tricycle operators has surged from N400 to N1,000, while the yearly sticker now costs N12,500 a steep rise from last year’s N3,000.
Okada riders are also feeling the pinch, with their daily ticket fee doubling to N400.
Expressing their frustration, the operators urged the Commissioner for Transport to reverse the charges, emphasizing that apart from providing for their families, they also struggle with the high cost of maintaining their vehicles. They added: “We cannot foot the bill.”
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A female resident in Udu shared her ordeal: “I was actually surprised when I came out this morning and I couldn’t get a bike. I had to walk a distance with my two children, one on my back, before I saw a guy I know. And he helped us. He told me what was happening. And I want to join them in asking the state government to reconsider the charges. It’s not easy for any of us.”
Insider reports reveal that the N12,500 sticker fee includes payment for identity cards, waste baskets, customized jackets, and profiling/revalidation aimed at curbing insecurity among Keke riders.
Attempts to reach the Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, for comments were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, tension is mounting in the affected areas as some tricycle operators face harassment from their colleagues, who demand that they offload their passengers and join the protest. The situation remains volatile as the standoff continues.