The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, on Thursday noted that there were no plans to ban operations of commercial motorcycles popularly known as ‘Okada’ as a means of transportation in the country.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, made this clarification while speaking in Abuja at the Annual Strategic Stakeholders Summit of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle & Motorcycle Owners, Repairs & Riders Association of Nigeria.
This clarification followed earlier reports of plans to ban okada as a commercial means of transportation to curb insecurity in the country.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had given the indication in July, saying, “Placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities will cut the supply of logistics to the terrorists. This will be done in the national interest.”
Speaking at the event, Adegoroye said the Federal Executive Council had not decided on the ban.
He said, “By the grace of God, I’ve been a member of the Federal Executive Council, the highest decision-making body in this country today, and I’ve been there now since July. I was appointed in June, I became a member, and I attended my first FEC on the 6th of July this year.
“Let me assure you and assure ACOMORAN that there is no decision to ban Okada.”
While congratulating the President of ACOMORAN, Prince Samsudeen Apelogun, on the successful organisation of the event, the Minister added, “There are a few issues I will like to make comments on.
“The Federal government, under the leadership of our father and our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, is also desirous of putting in place a mass transit system that will not fail like those of the past.
“It is true that several governments in the past have done one or two things to promote mass transit and ensure that our people are able to move from one place to the other seamlessly and easily.
“But nobody is a repository of knowledge. Nobody has monopoly of wisdom. ACOMORAN also have a right and a duty to this country. So, we will put heads together.”