Against the backdrop of the plan to stop commercial tricycle operators otherwise known as Keke from operating on municipal roads, the ownership of the newly introduced Metro Taxi scheme to replace the tricycle operators is raising concern among Imolites.
The media is awash with news of the planned scrapping of keke transport services in Owerri Municipality in the next 100 days.
The State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was said to have made the disclosure recently.
As divergent views continue to trail the planned action, reports have it that residents of the state are eagerly waiting to know the identity of those behind the new Metro Taxi scheme likely to take over keke operators job.
Trumpeta learnt that the heightened tension over the ownership and operation of the Metro taxi reached anxious stages when unconfirmed reports revealed that the new Taxi Scheme is not only a private sector initiative but also has no inputs from government agency, like Ministry of Transport.
It was gathered that a top political office holder in the state (names withheld) who wields enormous influence coupled with his financial muscles is strongly behind the project. This newspaper was also informed that the interest of the owners may have forced the state government to ban keke completely from the municipality. According to details concerning the mini taxi schemes, the operators are renowned partakers in transport business and may have been involved in the course of expanding its growing economic empire.
According to sources, any operator willing to abandon his keke for the Suzuki-made four-seater metro taxi will cough out above N1m to be part of hire-purchase system of payment.
It was learnt that the owners with linkage with government officials want to recoup all monies invested in the project.
