2027: Keke Operators Support Mbah, Tinubu for Second Term, Commend Sterling Performances

– As Ugwuanama Farms MD attributes large-scale farming in Enugu to Mbah’s policies

– Gov reciprocates with scrapping of daily Keke ticketing, extending operational time***
– Reiterates Enugu’s zero tolerance for political violence

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Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu

Members of the Tricycle Riders Association, Enugu State Chapter, have endorsed Governor Peter Mbah for a second term in office, citing improved security, expansion of road infrastructure, and social amenities in the state.

The association, whose members are popularly known as Keke riders, also endorsed President Bola Tinubu, pointing to the Enugu-Onitsha Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, New Artisan Bridge, Obinagu Flyover, and strategic appointments.

Meanwhile, in another development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ugwuanama Farms Ltd, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, has credited stated the impactful policies on security and creation of investment-friendly environment by Governor Peter Mbah as accelerating agricultural transformation, boosting food production and encouraging large-scale farming across Enugu State.

Nnaji who spoke in a chat with newsmen against the backdrop of the 2026 World Food Day, celebrated for the third time in Enugu under the Mbah administration lauded the later for the land reforms that had simplified access to land and strengthened the conditions necessary for commercial farming and agricultural expansion.

Meanwhile the Keke riders laudatory endorsement was promptly reciprocated by Governor Mbah, who announced the scrapping of the N750 daily fees levied on tricycle operators by government, meaning that they would now be making additional gain of N22, 500 every month.

Mbah also lifted the restriction placed on the operational period for Keke operators, extending the time from the previous 9.00pm to 10.00pm, adding that they would continue to operate at no cost at all the state’s modern transport terminals.

The endorsement of both Governor Mbah and President Tinubu was done at a huge rally held on Saturday at Okpara Square, Enugu, which climaxed the conclusion of a “One Million March” organised by the Tricycle Riders Association of Nigeria.

The state Chairman of the association, Comrade Kingsley Edeh, said the endorsements were based on verifiable achievements, especially those that have positively impacted the lives and businesses of tricycle riders, their families, and the people of Enugu State in general.

He wondered “which one (among Mbah’s achievements) will we reel out and leave the other” given that they traverse all sectors.

“Is it the security and good roads, which now enable us to ply our trade without any problems, the 267 Smart Green Schools, the completion of long-abandoned projects such as the International Conference Centre, Nigergas Limited, Sunrise Flour Mills, Hotel Presidential, and many more?,” Edeh asked rhetorically.

He acknowledged that “we can also see the infrastructure President Tinubu is building in the South East and the support he is giving to our governors”.

“So, we will vote APC from top to bottom come 2027,” he declared.

The National Secretary of the Tricycle Riders Association, Comrade Sumday Esang, who was at the rally, corroborated the stance of the Enugu chapter.

He described Mbah as a ‘magician’ in the art of governance, stressing that no governor anywhere had done what he was able to accomplish in three years.

“Your ‘Tomorrow Is Here’ vision is evident in the construction of modern transport terminals, the establishment of Enugu Air, investment in an asphalt plant, intra- and inter-city road construction, and efforts to improve traffic flow and urban transportation.

“These initiatives are promoting safer, more organised, and more efficient movement across the state,” Esang said.

The National Secretary of the Tricycle association also commended Mbah’s policy of allowing tricycle operators to use designated terminals without paying toll fees.

According to him, “this support recognises their contribution to the economy and the livelihoods of thousands of families”.

“These practical policies reflect disruptive innovation and demonstrate how effective leadership can turn vision into tangible opportunities,” he added.

While responding to the speeches of the leaders of the tricycle association, Mbah Mbah described tricycle operators as critical players in the state’s economy hence the various interventions to increase their disposable incomes.

He said: “You are the powerhouse of our economy because you set out early in the morning, working long hours, navigating traffic, taking our workers to work, taking our students to school, moving our people from urban areas to rural communities, connecting businesses, and helping traders get to their businesses. A lot of people earn their living because of what you do”.

The Enugu chief executive assured the tricycle operators that “we also see your struggles. So, I have started engaging with your executives on how we can make life better for you”, citing the abolition of payments by “our tricycle riders” at any of the transport terminals.

“Let me also recognise something. Our government, as you know, is not just about growth. We are also interested in ending poverty and making sure that you have more money or disposable income to take care of your family. And so, the issue of tickets is sealed. No more tickets for you,” he said.

Mbah explained the reason for extending the operational period of tricycle operators by one hour saying that “when we came into the office in 2023, we inherited a curfew on tricycle operators such that they could only operate from 6am to 9pm”.

“There was a sit-at-home, but we have ended that with your support. Today, Enugu State is safe. So, we will be shifting your operational time limit from 9pm to 10pm,” he announded to the cheering of the Keke operators.

Mbah, who acknowledged the encomiums poured on him by the Keke operators for the rapid construction of roads in the state, noted that it was intended for holistic growth of the state’s economy, including personal disposable incomes.

“Because I understand how bad roads can be terrible, not only for your tricycles and the money you spend on repairs, but also for the time you spend at the mechanic, all the roads in Emene, Abakpa, Idaw River, Trans-Ekulu, Awkunanaw Area, Coal Camp, New Haven, Thinkers Corner, Uwani, among others, are paved or being paved.

“I can assure you that there will be no road in our city that will be unpaved. We are going to pave all the remaining 1,022 roads,” he stated.

Alluding to the recent political violence reported in Enugu Meanwhile, Mbah again vowed that his administration would take every step within the law to preserve the security and peace that the people of Enugu had worked to build in the state.

“You must treasure it (peace). You must protect it. Enugu is on an upward trajectory. We will not allow those deceptive voices and politicians who campaign in poetry but only govern in prose. With our government, you have experienced real development and real growth,” he said.

“Let me also warn that we have worked extremely hard to establish a safe state. Nobody, no matter their ambition, will take that away from us”.

The Enugu governor stressed that “we will not stop at anything, deploying all means necessary within the law to bring to book any violator or anybody who tries to import thugs to disrupt the peace and public safety we enjoy in this city and this state”.

“We have zero tolerance for violence,” Mbah stated.

He enjoined the Keke riders to make good their endorsements by not only getting their PVCs ready for the 2027 elections but also voting massively for him, all APC candidates, and President Bola Tinubu.

Mbah said that it was Tinubu’s policies, that ensured the availability of resources to execute the numerous projects they had listed.

Other speakers at the event were the Enugu State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; Grand Patron of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Greg Ugwu; and the Managing Director, Enugu East Zone Transport Terminals, Dr. John Egbo.

Meanwhile, in the words of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ugwuanama Farms Ltd, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, “We, the farmers in Enugu State, particularly Ugwuanama Farms Ltd, are successfully operating in the state today because of the governor’s deliberate policies designed to encourage investment, especially in land tenure, which makes commercial farming possible, as well as the flexibility in accessing land and other facilities,” Nnaji said.

He stated that the growing confidence of farmers and investors in Enugu’s agricultural sector was as a result of the state governor’s deliberate policies, security interventions and commitment to modernising the agricultural sector.

The Ugwuanama Farms MD noted that the Enugu government has recorded significant progress in repositioning the state to rank among Nigeria’s leading states in agricultural transformation.

According to him, this achievement was made possible through strategic investments, improved access to farmland, technological innovation and policies designed to attract private-sector participation.

Nnaji said that the transformation of previously insecurity-prone forests and hinterlands into viable agricultural production zones represents one of the administration’s most consequential achievements, particularly for farmers who depend on safe access to their farmlands in order to engage in food production.

He lauded the governor for his sustained efforts to dislodge criminal elements from forests and rural communities, thereby improving security, strengthening farmers’ confidence and creating opportunities for commercial agriculture to thrive.

He highlighted the deployment of Forest Guards, community policing structures, Command-and-Control Centre linked to security drones, AI-enabled surveillance cameras and other modern security infrastructure as critical components of the state government’s strategy to protect lives, secure rural investments and restore confidence across farming communities.

The commercial farm CEO stressed that effective security remained indispensable to agricultural development, pointing out that farmers could not achieve optimal productivity if they were exposed to harassment, attacks or threats while accessing their farmlands.

Nnaji further expressed satisfaction in Governor Mbah’s efforts in promoting agricultural mechanisation, innovation and technology while encouraging young people to embrace farming as a viable source of wealth creation and employment.

He said that the Smart Green Schools initiative, which integrates agricultural activities into the learning environment, as a forward-looking strategy for introducing school children to modern farming practices and developing the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs.

While explaining the connection between security, economic prosperity and food security, Alhaji Nnaji noted that the growing emphasis on agricultural production was already contributing to increased food availability and easing food prices.

He maintained that the Mbah administration’s approach has demonstrated that securing rural communities and supporting farmers were essential to achieving sustainable food production and economic growth.

Nnaji congratulated Governor Mbah, farmers, agricultural investors and other stakeholders on World Food Day, expressing optimism that the state’s agricultural sector would continue to expand under the administration’s policies.

He called for sustained collaboration between government and private investors to consolidate the gains already recorded I. Enugu’s agricultural sector.

This, according to him, would attract further investments and position Enugu State as a major agricultural hub capable of creating jobs, improving livelihoods and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s food security.