The recent ban on the operation of tricycle popularly known as Keke within Abuja metropolis has sparked criticisms among residents on Twitter.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the FCT Ministerial Task Team on Traffic on Tuesday announced that it has concluded plans to begin full enforcement of the ban on major Highways and the city centre in the territory.

Chairman of the team, Ikharo Attah, revealed this at a sensitisation campaign held on Tuesday in Abuja.

Attah said that the exercise, in collaboration with the Department of Road Traffic Services, would not only restore sanity to the nation’s capital, but would also help in the fight against traffic gridlock.

He debunked insinuations by some individuals that the order was designed to unleash hardship on both the operators of the Tricycles and residents of the FCT.

He explained that the ban was in line with the transportation master plan of the city, which stipulated that the operations of all means of transportation should be regulated and controlled.

The task team chairman also said that the ban was meant to enhance the safety of the operators, as well as that of the passengers, because they would no longer be allowed to move on Highways.

According to him, the Abuja project will not succeed if laws and regulations that govern operations of businesses are not enforced and obeyed.

“What the Minister is asking the operators of Keke Napep is just to restrict themselves to areas designated for them to operate, as they cannot be everywhere in the city, particularly on major highways and the Central Area.

“The deployment of high capacity buses from the fleets of Abuja Urban Mass Transport, will cushion the effects of the ban,’’ Attah said.

Some residents have, however, taken to Twitter to condemn the move which they claimed would bring hardship upon residents and cause unemployment in the city.

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See some of the reactions:

Abuja stopping the use of keke napeps out of nowhere will only lead to an increase in unemployment. They should have informed the tricycle drivers months in advance for them to prepare for the rule.

— Isima (@IsimaOdeh) November 12, 2019

They’ve banned Keke in Abuja o, I hope I won’t trek home today. And I still entered Keke this morning, how will I get home now? pic.twitter.com/41EJD7Iv1B

— Fatoki Damilola (@dacious_) November 12, 2019

No Keke in some places in Abuja and Bolt/Uber drivers in certain locations are having a good day making money. One mans “God why” is another mans “Thank God”. #AbujaTwitterCommunity

— Umeh and 99 others (@UmehWrites) November 12, 2019

But how do you stop keke in key areas in a town like Abuja where a good number of graduates can’t afford a car and need to move around? I’m trying so hard to understand this country. How can one be happy in a country like this

— LAMI?? (@ashantylami) November 12, 2019

FCT-Abuja with a huge chunk of it’s population being civil servants, does not have a proper mass transportation system.

Now goes ahead to ban cheap, and easily accessible means of transportation (Keke) without providing alternatives.

Genius stuff!

— Uncle Demola (@OmoGbajaBiamila) November 12, 2019

Now wey dey don ban keke (Tricycle) inside Abuja wetin we go do.????

No keke for road. Even for life camp, jabi, utako. Haba
Karmo market road sef dey free??today wey be market day?? pic.twitter.com/b02HmQgZwm

— Queen Ray ?? Chief of Beauty staff (@rachaelbereba) November 12, 2019

The banning of Keke in Abuja is just one of the numerous dividends of democracy Nigerians are enjoying under Buhari. Cheers to a greater FCT.

Sai Baba.

— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (@FOnyeoziri) November 12, 2019

Keke drivers with “4+4” signs shouting Sai baba barely 9mnths ago have been put out of jobs by their beloved baba

Life comes at you fast though.

— Igbo First! (@stephie_coco) November 12, 2019