Delta donates tricycles, buses to DELSU as ban on okada takes effect

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on Tuesday explained that the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly called okada, was in the interest of the people of the state.
Uduaghan, who stated this in Warri while presenting two 50-seater buses, two 18-seater buses and 50 tricycles for use in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, noted that it was not intended to make the people suffer.
According to him, it had become necessary as investigations revealed that commercial motorcycles were being used to perpetuate crime in the area.
He reiterated that the decision to ban okada was taken at the State Security Council meeting and not a personal decision, adding that crimes have greatly reduced in Asaba, Warri and other towns where okadas have been banned in the state.
Dr. Uduaghan said 20 tricycles and the two 18-seater buses would be used and managed by the Delta State University, Abraka.
He noted that the tricycles were given to the University free, while 30 tricycles and the two 50-seater buses would be used within Ethiope East Local Government Area.
He said that the tricycles and vehicles had to be presented to cushion the effects of the ban on okada operations on the people.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries of the government gesture, the Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Eric Arubayi, thanked Uduaghan for being a listening governor.
Arubayi said the vehicles would be very useful as “90 per cent of our students live off campus.”