Why bus, keke operators protested – Enugu state government

Enugu state government has dismissed reports that commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators protested against alleged excessive taxes and levies in the state.

Specifically, it said the operators were at the new terminal to demand designated parking spaces.

The government also accused opposition elements of allegedly misrepresenting the incident to create the impression of widespread discontent with the administration.

The special adviser to the governor on media, Onyekwere Nwobodo, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

Nwobodo said the operators’ concerns were related to parking arrangements around the Ogbete main market and their request for spaces within the new terminal.

He said, “The protest had nothing to do with tax or fuel price increase, but to draw the attention of government to their desire to have spaces allocated to members inside the new terminal.

“They had complained that members were regularly violating and contravening the no-parking order around the Ogbete Main Market, making it necessary for the terminal managers to allocate them a designated space to park inside the facility.”

The governor’s aide alleged that while leaders of the two groups were meeting with the terminal management, some opposition elements allegedly gave reporters what he described as a “convoluted account” of the incident.

He claimed that the reports subsequently portrayed the development as a protest against taxation and fuel price increases.

Nwobodo further accused the opposition of attempting to use the incident to score political points, alleging that the development was being misrepresented because political campaigns were ongoing.

He said, “It was no coincidence that this so-called protest, which never happened since the three years of this administration and the friendly tax regime, was taking place now that political campaigns were ongoing.”

The media aide also criticised reports quoting unnamed sources, saying the accounts should have been verified with leaders of the affected transport groups.

He, however, commended the police for intervening in the situation, saying the intervention prevented what he described as a possible breach of public peace.

Nwobodo urged residents who wished to protest government policies or air grievances to seek security clearance to ensure orderly processions.

The government’s statement

followed reports of a protest by transport operators in Enugu, which had been linked to alleged taxes and levies imposed on commercial transporters.