Niger insists no going back on okada ban

The Niger State Government on Friday insisted that there is no going back on the ban of the operations of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, in Minna, the state capital, despite pleas from royal fathers and the media.
The Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, told journalists at a press conference in Minna that alternative arrangements have been made by the government.
Garba said: “The government has taken the decision to ban okada totally from Minna because most of the riders don’t know traffic rules.
“Over 70 per cent of accidents in Minna are caused by the riders.
“We have purchased 1,000 tricycles (Keke) that will take over from the okada riders.
“We have also ensured that 20 luxury buses carry students free and any other person would have to pay a token of N20 wherever he or she stops.”
Garba also disclosed that private motorcycle riders can only be allowed if they are riding alone without carrying any passenger and that they must be fully registered with the Vehicle Inspection Officer.
Furthermore, he said the state government has commissioned 500 Community Based Traffic Vanguards to monitor and apprehend those that default after the January 2, 2013 deadline, adding: “Only members of the Okada association, ACCOMORAN, who are fully registered with their receipts of N5,000 will be given a Keke to operate.”
Royal fathers, including the Emir of Minna and other chiefs, had pleaded with the government to restrict the riders to certain areas in Minna.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Niger State chapter, also on Thursday appealed to the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, to re-consider plans to outrightly ban the operations of commercial motorcycles in Minna.
It should be recalled that the state government had indicated its preparedness to ban commercial motorcycle operators who operate between 7am and 7pm from January 2, 2014.