By Austin Ogwuda

Operators of tricycles, popularly called Marwa, were yesterday barred from operating along the Asaba-Benin highway.
Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa said the ban became necessary in view of the high rate of accidents involving tricycles on the expressway, which he described as worrisome.

Igbakpa, who spoke in Asaba, said: “It is really worrisome because available statistics from the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, revealed that between May and November this year, 30 crashes, six deaths and 22 injuries were recorded.
“On monthly basis, we witness an average of five carnages involving tricycle along the Benin-Asaba expressway.
“With the rate of carnages recorded so far,” he went on, “it is evident that we are gradually returning to the era of Okada in the state capital and its environs.

“This is unacceptable and we are prepared to enforce the ban of tricycles on our expressways in the state.”
Recall that Delta State government banned the use of commercial motorcycles, popu-larly known as Okada, in Asaba and some major cities about a year ago and introduced the use of tricycles in its place.