Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has said he would introduce buses and taxis to compliment the number of trycycles, otherwise known as Keke NAPEP plying roads in Maiduguri and environs.
He said this on Tuesday when he addressed officials, alongside about 200 operators of commercial tricycles popularly known as Keke NAPEP during which he clarified that government has no plan to ban Keke NAPEP but intends to regulate their activities in order to address social and security concerns growing in Maiduguri.
He also revealed that, in order to sanitise the transport operation, he would give trained Keke operators buses and taxis.
The governor had two weeks ago, met officials of the association during which he told them his concerns about Keke NAPEP operations and the regulatory plans.
He said he was not unaware of the value of Keke NAPEP, which has the capacity to go to remote locations that are off major roads, and even their political values including their support for him.
However, because of the influx of displaced persons to Maiduguri and those trying to exploit the situation, the governor said, “we want to regulate and bring in 100 taxis and 50 buses and these taxis and buses will be allocated to qualified operators of Keke NAPEP as alternative means of transportation, the governor said.
