Story from Abdullahi ISAH, Kano
Commercial Tricycle Operators in Kano have embarked upon an indefinite strike on Monday, inflicting severe hardship on commuters.
The indefinite strike aimed at protesting against alleged unnecessary extortion by Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) under the guise of tax payment.
One of the tricycle operators, Shamsu Abubakar Kuka Uku, speaking with Neptune Prime explained that after imposing 100 naira tax daily, KAROTA had directed them to make the payment in a cafe, a process they said cost at least 700 naira.
“This is unacceptable, we can’t afford to continue to accommodate this brutal policy”.
He added, “we will continue to resist this collective punishment”.
Recall that the commercial tricycle operators have staged two days peaceful demonstrations last Wednesday in some parts of Kano metropolitan, causing gridlock in some major roads, but police operatives quickly intervene and dispersed them.
Some of the tricycle riders who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused their leaders of conniving with the MD of KAROTA to extort their members.
The state spokesperson of commercial Tricycle Operators did not respond to calls for comment about the general strike.
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However, Baffa Babba Danagundi, the managing Director of KAROTA, warned that he would not bow to the pressure of the Tricycle Operators, noting that nobody is above the law.
Earlier today, Kano state commissioner of information, Malam Muhammad Garba, announced that the state government is about to launch a public transport system with 200 Buses to improve the transportation system within the state capital.
According to experts, the announcement seems to be a response to the Tricycle Operators strike.
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