The Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA) has announced a ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, in the state capital and some other parts of the state.

Speaking to Channels Television after plenary on Wednesday, the Chairman House Committee on Information, Mr Yusuf Yakubu said the decision was informed by the spate of insecurity said to be perpetrated with motorcycles in the state.

He also blamed the recklessness of motorcyclists which has led to incessant accidents and other social delinquencies  in the state, adding that  adequate arrangements have been made to cushion the effect of the ban.

He announced that the ban will affect metropolitan communities within the state and will take effect after 14 days of passage of the Bill.

He listed  the areas affected to include  the entire Kaduna North Local Government, Kaduna South Local Government , Kafanchan Metropolis only, parts of Zaria Township , parts of Chikun Local Government , Lere, Birnin Gwari,  Giwa and  Igabi  Local Government Areas .

An earlier move in February, 2013 by the government to ban the activities of commercial motorcyclist in the state met stiff resistance and almost caused crisis in the state.

It was also greeted by a barrage of criticism from other stakeholders who believed that the ban would impact negatively on the security and the unemployment rates in the state.

The reasons adduced for the ban then, according to the government, were to improve the state transport system and curb insecurity within Kaduna metropolis, Zaria, Sabongari and Kafachan.

The Bill titled; “Kaduna state Commercial Motorcycles Prohibition Law, 2014”, warned that any person who contravenes the ban shall be fined either the  sum of N20,000 or six months imprisonment or both.

It also empowers all magistrate courts in the affected local government areas to prosecute violators of the law, including confiscation of their motorcycles.

The news of the ban has generated mixed reactions from residents of the state with the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) describing the decision as ill-timed and one that would  worsen the unemployment crisis in the state,  while some residents applauded the ban which they said will reduce crime and accidents in the state.

Kaduna state has had its own share of security challenges in the country, having witnessed several bomb attacks by the Boko Haram sect. It is the belief of many that the state government should produce alternative means of transport and also come up with various poverty alleviation intervention measures in order to provide a means of livelihood to those that will displaced by this ban.