Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU), Aba Zone, on Monday held a seminar for tricycle operators in Aba aimed at ensuring safety and reducing accidents on Abia roads.
Declaring the seminar open in Aba, the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Chimezie Ukaegbu, urged tricycle operators to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and embrace safe driving practices.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Transport, Obioma Nwogbe, enjoined the Keke riders to regard the programme as an opportunity to acquire life-saving knowledge.
Ukaegbu explained that the training, which centred on defensive driving, safe driving, security driving, regular tricycle maintenance, financial management and traffic rules, was also used to sensitise the operators on why they should prioritise the safety of their passengers.
Also speaking on behalf of the Abia State Commander of the NDLEA, the Assistant Commander of Narcotics in charge of Prevention, Sensitisation and Training, Frank Nwaohamuo, warned that the intake of stimulants by Keke operators could blur their vision on the roads and cause fatal accidents.
Another facilitator and Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aba, Uduma Uduma, cautioned tricycle operators to stop driving against traffic and avoid overspeeding.
Earlier, the chairman of the Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU), Victor Azubuike, disclosed that the seminar was organised to educate tricycle operators about the dangers of unsafe driving.
