Commuters in Jos metropolis have called for a review on restriction on operation of tricycles, which have been the dominant means of transportation in the city.
The state government has recently tightened the operations of tricycles following the outbreak of violence in the town.
Before the recent review the operations of the tricycle operators were allowed to operate from 6am to 9pm, but a new review which came into effect after the recent violence in the state, tricycle operators can no longer operate after 6pm daily.
Benue/Plateau Trust reports that commuters run helter-skelter once it is 5pm to return home so that they would not be caught up violating the order.
The review has caused disruption to businesses as shop owners close early to beat the closing time while some commercial vehicles plying major roads have taken advantage of the situation to increase their fares.
Many residents have resorted to trekking back home because they could not either pay the increased fare being demanded by the operators or there are no vehicles going to their destinations.
However, residents are divided on the review with some saying that it will solve the dire security situation in the city, which they say is often perpetrated by the tricycle operators/operation.
The Tricycle Riders Union Chairman Old Airport-Rayfield Unit, Clement Ishaya, said the restriction has been causing untold hardship not only to the operators but the customers.
He called on government to revert to its earlier 9pm because apart from the effect on night life, it has also brought about economic hardship on them since they make more money in the evenings
Another tricycle operator, said he is finding it difficult to meet up because he can barely raise money to settle the owner of the tricycle as they earlier arranged.
He said he is operating the tricycle almost at a loss, and that it has not been easy for him and his family.
A passenger, Paul Friday, said the situation is terrible as many people don’t own cars and are forced to close early from their businesses or trek home.
He advised the government to put other security measures in place to check resurgence of violence in the state generally rather than restricting tricycle operation which is causing serious hardship among the people.
He also called on the government to liaise with tricycle unions to look for a way of checking the bad ones among them.
Patience Salankey said the restriction is in order because it helps to check insecurity in the city because some operators use tricycle to commit criminal activities.
She said even the town is now more organized since the restriction, adding that any passenger who wants to move around after 6pm can order a cab/taxi to go to wherever he/she wants to go.
Calls and text message sent to the state Commissioner of Transportation, Muhammad Muhammad, for his reaction were not responded to.
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