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Kaduna Government Bans Use Of Okada In The State

Kaduna state government on Tuesday announced the ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada in the state capital and some other … Continue reading Kaduna Government Bans Use Of Okada In The State


yeroKaduna state government on Tuesday announced the ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada in the state capital and some other parts of the state.

The state governor, Mukhtar Yero, who signed the bill into law, said the decision to stop the operations of commercial motorcyclists in the state capital and other parts of the state was due to the security challenges which were allegedly perpetrated with motorcycles adding that it was also aimed at reducing the high rate of accidents in the state.

The State House of Assembly had last week passed the Executive Bill seeking to ban commercial motorcycle operators in some parts of the state into law, and listed the areas affected in the ban 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 .

The House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr Yusuf Yakubu, told Channels Television last week that the government’s decision to ban commercial motorcyclists was informed by the spate of insecurity in the state said to be perpetrated with motorcycles, recklessness of operators leading to incessant accidents and other social delinquencies in the state, adding that adequate arrangements have been made to cushion the effect of the ban.

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”, warned that any person who contravenes the ban shall be fined either the sum of N20,000, six months imprisonment or both and also empowers all magistrate courts in the affected local government areas to prosecute violators of the law, including confiscation of their motorcycles.

The law is expected to take effect 14 days after it was signed into law. He also noted that a task force will be mandated by the state government to arrest any commercial motorcycle operator that violates the directive.

The news of the ban has however 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.