Hardship: Taraba commercial cyclists appeal for government empowerment
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
As hardship continues to soar higher across the country, Taraba State Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle riders, have appealed to the Government of Taraba State to come to their aid through empowerment programs to help cushion the effects of their hardship.
The cyclists under the umbrella of Tricycle and Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (TASCOTMAN), appealed for provision of motorcycles, tricycles, soft loans or grants for members to boost their operations and well being
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital, Nasiru Garba Ahmed, the state chairman of the association, stressed the plight of cyclists in the state, pointing out that many of them were finding it difficult to cope with the present situation in the country
He appealed to the state government to provide an empowerment scheme for members of the association, adding that most members of the association are youths whose empowerment would definitely have a multiplier effect as they have many other persons depending on them.
Nasiru Garba Ahmed
“We want to appeal to our visionary leader, Dr Agbu Kefas to turn his eyes on the sufferings of our members who are finding it difficult to attain three square meal these days because of increment in the pump price of fuel
“The cost of a tricycle these days is also scaring. Most of our members can no longer acquire a tyre of a tricycle let alone have it complete. We want to appeal with the state government to come to our aid. We have seen how the governor has passionately intervened in many sectors and boosted them within the short time he has been in office. He has done it in Agricultural sector, health and education among others. We believe he can equally do it for us”. The chairman appealed
Nasiru Garba who assumed office as Chairman, TASCOTMAN, few months ago, assured that he would continue to work hand in hand with the state government and all other constituted authorities to ensure that the association was completely sanitized of criminal elements who have been disguising themselves as members of the association
He alleged that most of the criminal activities that are attributed to members of his association are being perpetuated by young men who usually sneaked into the state from Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi.
He however, disclosed that the association had already set up a committee that would soon put an end to the ugly trend
The chairman further appealed with the State Government to extend the time of operations of commercial tricycle riders in the state capital from 9:00pm to 12 midnight, arguing that the development would serve as another way of controlling criminal activities in the state capital.
He said the early seizure of movement within the town as a result of the ban, usually give room for criminal elements to operate freely and hurt their victims.
While encouraging tricycle owners to always follow the lay down procedures of the association before giving out their trycycles to any commercial rider, the chairman equally cautioned commercial cyclists to always obey security agencies and commands, especially that prices of tricycles are abysmally high.
