FG says no decision yet to ban Okada in Nigeria

The Federal Government, yesterday, declared it was yet to take a decision on outlawing commercial motorcycle (popularly called Okada) in the country.

Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, made the clarification in Abuja while speaking at the Strategic Stakeholders Summit of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN).

The clarification followed reports of a plan by the government to ban the mode of transportation and mining activities to curb arms supply to terrorists.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had, in July, said: “Placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities will cut the supply of logistics to terrorists. This will be done in the national interest.”

Adegoroye, however, affirmed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has not taken any decision on the proposed ban.

He said: “I’ve been a member of FEC, the highest decision-making body in this country, and I’ve been there since July. I was appointed in June. I became a member and I attended my first FEC on July 6, this year. Let me assure you and assure ACOMORAN that there is no decision to ban Okada.”

Earlier, the President of ACOMORAN, Prince Samsudeen Apelogun, described unemployment as one of the major factors that led to the use of motorcycles and tricycles in the transportation system.

He said many of the riders are graduates that took up the business to eke a living and improve their fortunes, owing to the dwindling economy.

He added: “It is an open discussion that our operations in a few states in Nigeria are being restricted, and riders’ motorcycles are confiscated and destroyed.

This has affected many innocent riders who took loans to buy their bikes.

“These include young graduates who had tried unsuccessfully to find gainful employment.

“We have and will continue to appeal to the government to consider the interest of the generality of Nigerians, especially those at the lowest part of the economic ladder when formulating and implementing policies.”