FG tasks Okada riders on adherence to traffic rules
Okada riders
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, has urged motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada riders, to adhere to traffic rules and observe road safety measures to reduce rising cases of related accidents.
She gave the advice in Abuja, during an interaction with the executive and members of the Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (ROMAN), who paid her a courtesy visit.
Ajani’s advice came on the heels of increasing reports of recklessness of Okada riders, harassment of other road users, and non-compliance with traffic rules and safety measures, which has led to avoidable accidents and deaths. Many State Governments, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, had banned commercial motorcycle operation from the city centres.
The Permanent Secretary called on ROMAN to constantly enlighten their members on the attitude, measures and ideas that will bring about a safer motorcycle transportation system.
Ajani encouraged the Association to key into the current global movement towards clean energy and electric vehicles. While appreciating the fact that this cannot be achieved in a hurry, she said the positives of the emerging global trend for the environment, health and the transportation sector cannot be over emphasised. She commended ROMAN for the visit and urged them to continue to work in synergy with other road transport operators and associations.
“Sensitise your members on putting on their helmets, regulating the speed limits and other safety measures for safe motorcycle riding,” she said. Earlier, the Business Development Officer of ROMAN, Malik Richard, who spoke on behalf of the National Chairman, Sotoye Olusola, said the visit was to intimate the Permanent Secretary on the activities of ROMAN and to appreciate her for the good work she had been doing in the transportation sector.
Richard said the Association has created a database of all its members; a move he explained would help check criminality and regulate the activities of commercial motorcycle riders.
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