From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
There are palpable fear and anxiety among commercial motorcycle operators, otherwise known as Okada, under the umbrella of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACCOMORAN), over the proposed plan by the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) to ban their operations nationwide.
The riders alleged that despite the frustrations and unfriendly policies of government against them, which they accepted in good fate, the government chose the option of nationwide ban on their activities to further worsen the matter and force food out of their table.
National President of ACCOMORAN, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan, who addressed a news conference in Abuja, reminded the government that over 30 million youths are fully engaged in the business of Okada riding, feeding their families and taking care of other issues through the business
“Imagine what would be the fate of these millions of youths if government should go ahead and ban the use of Okada nationwide. The implications would not be favorable to all because there would be increased crime and social vices.”