By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union (ATRTU) has lauded Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for building massive rural link roads and enduring socio-economic peace within the state.

The State Chairman of ATRTU, Mr Benjamin Ikah, gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Enugu, on the sidelines of a birthday goodwill message the group sent to Ugwuanyi as he clocked 58 years.

He said that the massive rural link roads, which span about 450-kilometres across the length and breadth of the state, have improved commercial tricycle business and checked tear-and-wear on the tricycles.

The Chairman said that at the urban level, the Governor had built more streets and avenue roads; thus, extending the commercial tricycle viability and reach to all nooks and crannies of the metropolises within Enugu and Nsukka.

“We, the commercial tricycle riders, ply our trade more in the internal routes within streets, avenue and rural areas; since we only take the major roads as a link between one part of a town and another.

“The new rural link roads as well as new street and avenue roads have seriously improved the lot of the commercial tricycle operators within the state and increased accessibility and take-home gains of operators as well.

“As an association, we thank our amiable Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his developmental vision that has made all these possible just in a few years in office,” he said.

Ikah also thanked the governor for his huge investment in security, streetlighting system and peace, which have created a socio-economic peaceful atmosphere for commercial tricycle operation.

According to him, with this positive socio-economic development, the state and its residents enjoy robust night life which commercial tricycle operators are taking advantage of.

“The governor’s huge investment in security, provision of a daily functional streetlight system and sustenance of both industrial and political peace were greatly robbing off on our members’ operations in the state.

“The present night life has further made our members operate beyond evening hours to the stipulated termination time of 9p.m as well as eliminated the issue of snatching of tricycles at gun point within the state,” he said.

The chairman said that the association was wishing Ugwuanyi, who is “a governor with a milk of human kindness in him,” a happy birthday and more divine health and blessings going forward.

“We are rejoicing with our own, a friend and father, His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as he clocks 58 and wish him divine prosperity and protection. ATRTU is pledging our total commitment to him and his administration,” he said.

Gov. Ugwuanyi clocked 58 years on Sunday, Sunday, March 20.