Tricycle owners to empower 350 youths in Cross River

Tricycle Owners’ Association of Nigeria, Cross River State branch, said on Sunday that it would distribute 350 tricycles to youths in Ikom Local Government Area of the state.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Joseph Ewa, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Ewa said that the gesture was part of efforts of the association to engage the youths of the state in meaningful ventures such as transportation and curb youth restiveness.

“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We have already engaged over 1,000 youths in Calabar South Local Government Area by giving them tricycles on hire-purchase basis.

“The tricycles are not given to them free. The association stands as a guarantor to the beneficiaries while the items are supplied by the dealers.

“That was the first phase; now, we are moving down to Ikom in the Central Senatorial District for the second phase. After that, we will move to Ogoja in the Northern Senatorial District.

“We know that it is unemployment that makes youths to indulge in hard drugs and other anti-social vices. Once they are engaged, they will become responsible,’’ he said.

Ewa said the association currently gives N3,000 monthly stipend to some unemployed youths in Calabar South to discourage them from taking to evil practices.

However, the chairman urged the state government to stop imposing what he described as “unrealistic” levies on tricycle operators in Calabar.

“It is a pity that tricycle operators have become the target of all government revenue generating agencies in the state,’’ he lamented.