Akwa Ibom State has recorded N14 million weekly from daily electronic ticket sales to Keke riders and minibus drivers operating within Uyo metropolis.
Commissioner for Transport Dr Anthony Luke disclosed this during a ministerial briefing in Uyo saying the feat has boosted the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Luke explained that the revenue increase was one of Pastor Umo Eno’s achievements in the transport sector over the last three years.
According to the Commissioner the ministry sells 100946 e-tickets to tricycle and minibus drivers at N200 and N300 respectively before 9 am daily.
‘This increases Akwa Ibom Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) daily.
‘The Ministry of Transport recorded this success in this administration through e-ticketing as minibus drivers and Keke operators pay for their tickets electronically.
‘This enables the government to recover money directly from e-ticket sales and it has helped to improve the state IGR by 109 per cent.
‘Since we started e-ticketing we have seen increases in the state revenue.’
Luke recalled that the e-ticketing regime revealed that out of 5794 Keke operators registered with the Ministry of Transport many were not paying for their daily tickets.
‘Now we record N2m daily and receive N14m in a week. We have recruited 143 enforcers to sell e-tickets to transport operators. The money is sent straight to government coffers under the present Single Treasury Account (TSA).’
Luke disclosed that the electronic sales of tickets were made possible through their collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Digital Economy headed by Engr Ekpenyong Udo Ekpenyong who provided technical support for the success of the new transport ticket regime in the state.
The Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy Dr Ekpenyong Udo Ekpenyong while providing technical details on the mechanism behind electronic ticket sales in the transport sector described the success as unprecedented in the state’s history under the Arise Agenda of Pastor Umo Eno.
Ekpenyong said cameras have been installed around Uyo metropolis to monitor tricycle operators and minibus drivers and check for excesses in passenger security in Uyo City.
‘With cameras installed around the city no Keke operator would escape from paying for the ticket.’
‘Again crime would be difficult to commit using a tricycle because the camera would track the rider and the security posted on the tricycle would provide detailed information that would help security agencies trace culprits. This is unprecedented in the history of Akwa Ibom and it is possible under the Arise Agenda of Pastor Umo Eno’