• Mon. Feb 10th, 2025

COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLES, TRICYCLE RIDERS COMMEND OKOWA

Jul 17, 2018

Members of the Delta State Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles (Keke-Napep) Riders Association in Ika South Local Government Area have commended His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, for the free health care initiative, of which the registration exercise is currently going on in the local government.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the programme supervisor Mrs. Magdalene Osaghor said the free health care scheme was recently initiated by the Delta State government, under the State Board of Internal Revenue “Identifiable Group Tax” (IGT), to improve the health conditions of the commercial motorcycle and keke riders across the state. She further disclosed that the scheme I.G.T. was purposely initiated by the Governor to provide free medical care to any member of the commercial motorcycles and Tricycles association who must have been duly registered with the board.

Speaking, the supervisor stated that registration exercise has been on since January 2018 and that the Governor has instructed them to make sure it goes round the 25 local government areas of the state. She said they have been able to register about 133 members of commercial motorcycles and Tricycles association in Ika South.

Disclosing, Mrs. Osaghor said all the Okada and keke riders need to do in order for them to qualify for the free medical care whenever the need arises for them to visit hospitals, is to  start buying tickets every day or monthly. She said the daily ticket is N50 and N1000 for one month. She said that at the end, the money realized from the Tickets will be remitted to the account of the state government.

Speaking further, the supervisor stated that when any of the Okada or keke riders falls sick or has an accident,  he has the right to choose any of the government hospitals across the state where he will be treated free of charge provided he has been following the due process. Mrs. Osaghor was accompanied by her co-workers, Mr. Simon Ekene and Miss Ekele Jeremiah.

On his own part, the chairman, Delta State Commercial Motorcycles, Tricycles Association, Ika South branch, Comrade Benson Osaje, on behalf of his members thanked the Governor, for the wise initiative which he said will not only help to improve their health standards, but will also help to unite them. He said he was happy the day His Excellency invited them to Unity Hall at the Government House, Asaba and told them that keke and okada riders in the state will start benefiting from his government through the provision of free health care.

He further disclosed that he is very happy because many Okada riders have died through accident or sickness due to lack of help, particularly in the area of finance. He advised every okada and keke rider in the local government to always be careful while making use of the road. He charged them to obey the traffic wardens and that of the constituted local government taskforce popularly known as, “One way and No packing” so that there will be peace and unity in the local government.

Speaking further, the chairman Delta State Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles (Keke-Napep) Riders Association called on all Deltans to vote massively for the Governor’s re-election come 2019. He assured the Governor of their 100 percent support towards his candidacy, noting that no okada or keke rider in Ika South will vote against Governor Okowa in 2019. The chairman while praying God to continue to bless the Governor and his cabinet used the medium to thank their state president, Chief Obi Nzeteh for the good leadership roles he has been playing. He prayed God to grant the state president the strength and wisdom to do more.