He said registered commercial keke riders, motorcycle operators and bus drivers collectively generate more than N3 billion annually for the state through daily ticketing.
By Frank Ulom
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Published on September 10, 2026
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4 min read
Labour Party candidate for Uyo Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections, Ikakke Bassey, has pledged to advocate policies that will improve the welfare and dignity of commercial tricycle, motorcycle and minibus operators in Uyo.
Bassey, in a statement on Thursday, September 10, 2026, described commercial transport operators as entrepreneurs and responsible citizens rather than a nuisance, citing their contribution to the revenue of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
He said registered commercial keke riders, motorcycle operators and bus drivers collectively generate more than N3 billion annually for the state through daily ticketing.
“Such a people aren’t nuisance, they are entrepreneurs and must be dignified,” Bassey said.
The Labour Party candidate said he had been consulting with commercial transport operators and sharing his vision for Uyo Federal Constituency ahead of May 29, 2027, when he said he would begin implementing his plans if elected.
“I assured them, that they will have a voice through me and will be heard, and never to be relegated again to the back,” he said.
According to Bassey, research published by the Akwa Ibom State University Journal of Administration and Corporate Governance put the number of registered keke riders in Uyo at 10,500 as of 2023.
He, however, said a recent conversation with an executive of the Akwa Ibom State Tricycle Association (AKTA) indicated that the number of registered keke riders in the city had risen to more than 15,000.
He said each registered keke rider pays N200 daily in tickets, resulting in an estimated annual contribution of more than N1.1 billion to the state government.
Bassey further estimated that about 8,000 registered mini-buses in Uyo each pay N300 daily in tickets, translating to more than N864 million annually.
He said the combined contribution from keke riders and mini-bus drivers alone amounted to about N2 billion annually.
“The sad part is that the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Transportation do not publish the official number of the registered commercial Keke riders and Mini-buses,” he said.
Bassey said he relied on his internal findings and information from the AKSU journal research to arrive at the figures, adding that the absence of publicly available data from the Ministry of Transportation raised questions about transparency in the sector.
He said his interest in representing Uyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives was partly driven by the need to influence government policies in favour of commercial transport operators.
“I want government to see Keke riders and Bus Drivers not as nuisance, but entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who have contributed hugely to the revenue of the State,” he said.
He proposed that 20 per cent of the cumulative annual revenue generated by the operators could be set aside to establish, maintain and sustain free service centres across Uyo metropolis and its suburbs.
According to him, at least 50 such centres could be established to enable commercial transport operators to access free repairs for minor vehicle problems.
“At least 50 centers – where they can drive in at anytime to have their minor issues fixed free of charge,” he said.
Bassey also proposed free emergency medical care for commercial transport operators involved in accidents or other mishaps.
He said operators should be able to access treatment at general hospitals by presenting their MOT numbers.
“That way you have directly impacted them by plowing back part of their tax to making life easy for them. They deserve free emergency medical care in case of accident or any mishaps,” he said.
The Labour Party candidate argued that such interventions would not only provide practical support but also improve the operators’ perception of their own contribution to society.
He said commercial transport operators needed a representative who would consistently bring their concerns before government.
“The Keke riders and mini-bus drivers needs a voice that will echo loudly to the government concerning these issues and many of their concerns, and I am that voice once I enter the green chambers as a member representing Uyo Federal Constituency,” Bassey said.
His proposals centre on the use of public revenue generated from commercial transport operators to provide welfare, healthcare and maintenance support for the sector.
