The National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) has threatened to stage peaceful protests across Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to fulfil campaign promises made to its members.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, NATOMORAS President, Usman Buba Gwoza, said millions of their members are disappointed and angry over the government’s failure to deliver on commitments made during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Gwoza explained that the association, which has over 18 million members nationwide, fully backed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu/Shettima ticket during the last elections. According to him, they worked as mobilizers and polling agents without receiving any payment.
“As part of the campaign promises, we were told our members would be empowered with 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, publicly announced this on October 1, 2024. Till today, not even one tricycle has reached us,” Gwoza said.
He added that NATOMORAS also expected federal appointments and funding support for their newly created Directorate of Community Transport but none of these promises have been kept.
“We feel used and betrayed,” Gwoza said. “We are not asking for handouts. We are asking for what was promised. We supported this government with all our heart. Now, we are being ignored.”
He warned that if the silence continues, NATOMORAS members across Nigeria will embark on a peaceful but powerful protest to demand action.
“Let it be clear, our protest will not be violent, but it will be in pain. We are breadwinners, we are citizens, and we deserve to be treated with respect,” he added.
NATOMORAS called on President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to honour their words and restore the trust of ordinary Nigerians who supported their victory.
