Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, has clarified that commercial tricycle operators will now pay ₦350 daily through the electronic ticketing platform. This follows Governor Peter Mbah’s announcement of a tax and levy holiday for Keke riders.
Nnamani explained that the revised fee removes state government charges from the previous ₦750 daily e-ticket. However, the platform will continue collecting local government levies and daily dues payable to the Amalgamated Keke Union.
The clarification follows Mbah’s announcement of relief measures for tricycle operators across Enugu State. According to the government, the move will ease riders’ financial burden while maintaining an organised system for collecting approved charges.
The former ₦750 daily ticket covered seven payment categories. These included personal income tax under the presumptive tax system, business premises renewal fees, Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) fees and Enugu State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) fees. It also covered transport loading and offloading tolls, local government levies and union dues.
However, the latest adjustment removes the state government’s charges under the first five categories. The remaining payments cover local government levies and Amalgamated Keke Union daily dues, which total ₦350.
Enugu Retains Electronic Ticketing for Keke Operators
He explained that retaining the electronic ticketing platform would help maintain order and transparency in the collection of the remaining charges.
It said the system would provide tricycle operators with a uniform payment process and reduce the need for multiple collections at different locations. The government also argued that discontinuing the platform could return the sector to a situation where union representatives and local government officials collected separate payments at various branches and junctions.
The administration said the revised arrangement would help preserve the peaceful atmosphere established within the Keke transport sector while reducing potential disputes over payments.
The move also aligns with the government’s broader efforts to improve the business environment in Enugu State. Governor Mbah has repeatedly highlighted infrastructure, security and administrative reforms as important factors in creating a more business-friendly state.
Read more about the administration’s development agenda in Peter Mbah’s Achievements and Enugu’s Development Plans.
Government Explains ₦350 Daily Keke Payment
Under the revised arrangement, the ₦350 daily payment covers only the local government levies and Amalgamated Keke Union dues, according to the government’s explanation.
The state government said it had updated the electronic ticketing technology to reflect the new amount. It also urged tricycle operators who had received information about the adjustment to comply with the revised payment arrangement without delay.
The explanation is intended to clarify the difference between the former ₦750 ticket and the new ₦350 charge, particularly following the announcement of the tax and levy holiday.
The government maintained that the electronic platform was not solely a revenue collection mechanism. Instead, it described the system as a way to streamline payments, establish clear collection procedures and protect riders from repeated demands for money.
The announcement follows the administration’s wider efforts to improve transport operations and road infrastructure across the state. The government has linked these interventions to its ambition to make Enugu more accessible to residents, commuters and businesses.
For more on the state’s infrastructure programme, see NACCIMA’s Remarks on Mbah’s Development Agenda and Enugu’s Economic Ambition.
Mbah Administration Seeks to Reduce Harassment of Keke Riders
The government said the revised ticketing system would help prevent harassment by establishing a recognised payment channel for the charges that remain applicable.
Previously, according to the explanation, tricycle operators faced collections from union representatives at different branches and local government officials at various junctions. The electronic platform is intended to reduce these multiple collection points and make payment obligations easier to identify.
The administration said it remained committed to creating an environment where business owners know where to pay approved charges without facing unnecessary harassment.
The government also called on residents and transport stakeholders to support the revised arrangement as part of efforts to build a more organised and peaceful transport sector.
The transport reforms form part of the state’s wider development programme, which includes investments in roads and other public infrastructure. The government has argued that improved roads and more predictable transport operations can support commercial activities and ease movement across communities.
Read about the administration’s infrastructure projects in Guild of Editors Tours Peter Mbah Projects, Praises Enugu Infrastructure.
The state has also pursued community-level development interventions through various agencies. These programmes aim to address local needs while supporting improvements in public services and economic activities.
More details are available in CSDA’s Community Sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal Exercises in Enugu.
The government said its ultimate goal was to ensure that the revised payment system supports both transport operators and the state’s efforts to maintain order in the sector.
With the reduction from ₦750 to ₦350 daily, the administration expects tricycle operators to benefit from lower charges while continuing to make the payments retained under the new arrangement.
The government urged Keke riders to embrace the revised system and work with the relevant authorities to sustain a peaceful and organised transport environment across Enugu State.
