By Ishola Adeleke, YeyeNews.com, November 11, 2021
The Delta State government has pledged to provide one million youths of the State with tricycle, popularly called Keke before the end of June 2022. The Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor made the pledge during the launching of a Keke manufacturing facility in Asaba. He said the governor approved the establishment of the Keke manufacturing company in the State to facilitate the achievement of what he called the “Million for Million” programme, a name that encapsulates the governor’s vision to provide the one million Keke for one million youths in the State.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the DG of the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA) commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his determination to transform Delta State to a model Keke transportation hub in Nigeria. “Many Delta State youths are now gainfully employed as Keke riders thereby drastically reducing the crime rate in our cities. Warri, which is our major city has experienced a smooth transition from being called an oil city to become a ‘Keke city’ as the city is now adjudged to have the largest concentration of Keke riders anywhere in the country. This is just one of the numerous economic miracles that Governor Okowa has delivered to Deltans. With the planned million for million programme of the governor, Delta State would be strategically placed as the center of excellence of Keke operations in the country”, the DG of DIDA declared.
Further hailing the governor for his unprecedented achievements the chairman of the Delta State Keke Riders Association, Nonye Basil called Governor Okowa the “real uncommon governor”. Mr. Basil, who is an accounting graduate of the Delta State University commended Governor Okowa for his youth friendly policies. “No government in the history of this State has empowered the youths like Governor Okowa. This initiative to give one million Keke to Delta youths is a further testament that the welfare of the youths is a priority for the government. With this additional one million Keke, the Keke Riders Association will become the biggest transport union in the country and Delta State will officially become a Keke State. Governor Okowa dey work and we dey see am”, Mr. Basil concluded with a pidgin English refrain.
