UYO-AKWA Ibom  State Government has begun the purchase of motorcycles, Okada, from their owners at a flat rate of N50,000.

The exercise, which began at the premises of the Ministry of Works and Transport on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, is handled by a committee set up by government for the purpose.

The Acting Governor, Mr. Nsima Ekere, who announced this when he met with the leadership of the Akwa Ibom Professional Commercial Motorcyclists Association, APCOMA, yesterday, in Uyo,  said that N500million will be released in the first instance as soon as the committee was in place while the balance would be released based on the management of the scheme.

The Desk Officer in charge of the exercise, Mr. Bassey Atti, said motorcycle owners were expected to provide proof of ownership, with up-to-date particulars of their motorcycles and two passport photographs.

At press time, hundreds of motorcyclists were seen queuing at the ministry’s premises to turn in their motorcycles in return for the money.

As a long-term measure to enable the affected commercial motorcyclists find alternative means of livelihood, the state government, last week, set up a N1billion revolving loan scheme for them.