The Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Office, has intensified efforts to resolve the lingering dispute between the Tricycle (Keke) Association and the Motorcycle (Okada) Association in Pyakasa, Abuja, as part of measures to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a breakdown of law and order within the community.
The Commission said the conflict centres on allegations of transport monopoly, restriction of operations and denial of access to designated commercial transport routes, while assuring stakeholders that every party would be given a fair hearing before any decision is reached.
The latest intervention followed a case conference held yesterday at the Commissionโs FCT Headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, but proceedings were adjourned after representatives of the Motorcycle (Okada) Association failed to honour the invitation extended to them.
Consequently, the FCT Federal Commissioner and Ombudsman, Musa Dikko, directed that the matter be rescheduled to enable the absent party to be properly served with a fresh notice, stressing that the Commission could not proceed without hearing both sides in line with the principles of natural justice.
The Commission explained that its intervention followed a petition by the Tricycle (Keke) Association, which alleged that members of the Motorcycle (Okada) Association had prevented them from operating freely in parts of Pyakasa Village and neighbouring communities, thereby affecting their lawful means of livelihood.
According to the Commission, the matter was first brought before it on October 23, 2024, and has remained unresolved despite previous efforts by the police and other stakeholders to broker peace. The affected areas include Angel Gabriel Estate, Redeemer Estate, Ketti Village and adjoining communities.
To support the peace process, the Commission said it had written to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Pyakasa Division, requesting police assistance to maintain law and order while facilitating peaceful coexistence between both transport unions.
At the case conference, the Nigeria Police Force, represented by SP Mkor Audu, urged the parties to embrace dialogue and encouraged the Commission to sustain its mediation efforts toward a peaceful settlement.
Representatives of the Tricycle (Keke) Association, including the Chairman of Keke NAPEP Pyakasa, Anas Sani, Treasurer Mohammed Kachalla, and Chairman of Utako Market (A), Ibrahim Sani, attended the meeting and highlighted what they described as the continued denial of access to certain commercial routes in Pyakasa and neighbouring communities.
The Commission said the decision to convene the case conference followed a briefing by the Deputy Director of Investigation for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mrs. Philomena Udeh, after which the Federal Commissioner directed that all parties be invited to ensure a fair hearing.
Dikko assured the Tricycle Association that the Commission remained committed to resolving the dispute and announced that the case conference would be reconvened once the Motorcycle Association had been properly served, with the aim of reaching an amicable and lasting resolution.