Ticket sellers to tricycle commercial transporters popularly known as Keke Napep or Keke Marwa operating in Akure, the Ondo State capital are now enmeshed in ticket racketeering.
Some of the transporters who spoke during an investigation revealed that ticket sellers at various collection units in the state capital, collect more than the official amount authorized by the state government which is printed on the ticket.
A source also hinted that the ticket sellers were fond of collecting money for the tickets without issuing them in certain days.
It was discovered that the state government had authorized the payment of N300 daily by each of the riders as printed on the ticket; however, the riders pay N500 for the ticket.
Some of the keke Napep riders, said they had earlier cried to the state government to rescue them from the ticket sellers collecting N500 illegal fee daily from them but without any results.
The operators who pleaded anonymity lamented how they were being forced to pay above the normal stipulated ticket fee.
They alleged that the ticket sellers had earlier warned them never to expose the shady deal to the public or risked being attacked.
According to them, they claimed the excess paid is meant for the feeding of Chairman, while some said the money is for ‘Owo ita.’
An operator who narrated his experience stated that the ticket he has been collecting showed the sum of N300, but that they were forced to pay N500.
“On Mondays and Tuesdays, we were forced to pay N500, on Wednesdays to Fridays, we pay N400, while we pay N300 on Saturdays and Sundays when tickets are not issued to us.
“When we requested to know the purpose for the increase in the amount of the ticket as against what was on the ticket, they said the increase is for the Marwa Union Chairman’ feeding.
We are aware that the state Governor has banned union activities but some unscrupulous elements still parade themselves as executive leaders and collect illegal fees from us.”
Another operator who confirmed the extortion, added that the so called executives also collect as much as N20,000 as registration fee from new entrants into the business, while the least payment for registration for those who were introduced by their associates is N12,000.
According to them, the ticket sellers had warned and threatened that whoever reveals the irregularities perpetrated will not only be dealt with, but will be killed, saying it is the reason they do not want their names mentioned for publication.
They, however, pleaded with the appropriate authorities concerned and particularly the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to save them from the ugly situation, lamenting, that they are only struggling to get their daily bread.
“Government should please come to our rescue, we are going through hell and do not want to go into stealing, begging or robbery to survive.
“We bought the Keke through hire purchase at the rate of N1.9 millon and we must make a delivery of N4, 000 daily and barely get something for the upkeep of our families,” one of them lamented.
Another operator from a different unit also confirmed the irregularities, saying that the ticket distributors in her unit also collects N500 instead of N300 as stipulated.
At her unit, she said they claimed that the excess paid for the ticket is for “Owo Ita,” meaning, land money.
” The N300 is okay, but the addition of N200 for what they called “Owo ita” is too much.
She pleaded with the government to help reduce the hire purchase amount on Keke, saying that the instalment payment was too high for those who do not have cash to buy.
“I want government to help in subsidizing the rate to a reasonable, manageable and affordable rate like N1.5 million or at most N1.6 million to help those that do not have money.’
Speaking on the development, the state Chairman of Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbite expressed disappointment, saying the irregularity was nothing, but fraud.
“It cannot be true because the payment rate is stated on the ticket for all commercial operators and not only the tricycle riders.
Adegbie who confirmed that the sample of the ticket was from his organisation described such additional payment apart from the official N300 as illegal.
He, however, assured on the commencement of investigation to bring perpetrators to book.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport, Mr Tobi Ogunleye condemned the act, saying government can never issue a ticket and collect more than what was approved therein.
He said the Governor is magnanimous and will never do what will have adverse effect on the people.
He urged the operators to kick against such illegality and pay only what is contained in the ticket.
The Hope
