The Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Utility and Transport, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, has said that the tricycle scheme of the state government was introduced to ply the roads that motorcycles will not ply in Ilorin Metropolis.

Speaking at the presentation of the first batch of tricycles to 250 beneficiaries in Ilorin last Thursday, Bibire said that commercial motorcycles, popularly called "okada", were banned on certain routes in Ilorin Metropolis due to the prevalent use of motorcycles for criminal activities.

The special adviser, who said that the programme would help people at the grass-roots areas, reduce accident and improve security, thereby ensuring safety of life and property of commuters, added that the scheme was conceived upon people's complaints to the government on how criminals were using okada to carry out nefarious activities and escape arrest after committing crimes.

Also speaking, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said that the scheme was part of efforts of his government towards youth job and wealth creation.

Governor Ahmed said the programmed, tagged

"Keke n Maigida", was designed to ameliorate the transportation challenges occasioned by the recent banning of commercial motorcycles in some parts of Ilorin Metropolis by fully engaging the beneficiaries in viable economic activities that would ease transportation and generate more employment to the people.

Governor Ahmed described the Transportation Revitalisation Scheme as another milestone of his administration's "determined march towards Shared Prosperity which seeks to economically empower our people."

The governor gave assurances that his administration remained committed to the concept of public-private partnership that will enhance economic empowerment of the people of the State.

He charged the beneficiaries of ‘Keke n Maigidda' to make the best use of the tricycles and keep to the repayment schedule as the scheme was a revolving one.

The governor explained that the recent prohibition of motorcycles in some parts of the Ilorin Metropolis was not meant to punish the people but as part of efforts to tackle emerging security challenges in the state.

He assured the people of the state of his determination to promote youth enterprenuership via micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

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