By Daud Olatunji

The unending debate on whether to ban the use of motocycles as a means of public transport has moved to Ogun state. The argument for or against the ban, like in all cases, depends on the side of the divide one belongs. Before any concrete step is taken, some stakeholders in government, security and transportation sectors gathered in the state to marshal their points.

File: A Policeman seizing a motorcycle from the owner.

The stakeholders include; Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the state Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekumbi, a foreign investor Monish Lakhani and the South West Chairman of  Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and  Riders Association of Nigeria, ACOMORAN- Samsudeen Apelogun .

Leaders of the operators of commercial motorcycles, as expected, warned against its ban to prevent throwing the seven million youths who they say are in the business, into the already saturated unemployment market, the security chiefs present  believe the  Okada business is fuelling crime. In many parts of the country , Okada business had been banned and later resuscitated following the rate of accidents and security challenges.

In Ogun State, the Police announced the disbandment of Okada business due to the high rate of crimes in Sagamu and some parts in Ijebu axis which they believed was perpetrated thorough the use of motorcycles. In Ondo State  government had also suspended the operation of commercial motorcycles but that was later reversed.

The state governor , Senator Ibikunle Amosun who spoke at a-two day seminar organised by ACOMORAN in Abeokuta,  advocated the restructuring of commercial motorcycling business in the country towards tackling insecurity and stimulating employment generation.

The governor while speaking on the theme “building capacity in the transportation sector : Panacea for economic down turn, a case study of commercial motorcycling” , noted that commercial motorcycling had become a major industry in the nation’s transportation.

The governor who was represented by the state House of Assembly Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi, said while the sector creates teeming employment opportunities, governments and stakeholders must  adequately regulate it to forestall hijacking by criminal elements. He assured that his administration  would continue to create the enabling environment for the transportation sector to thrive.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali who also addressed the gathering  called for the setting up of a special  team to monitor okada riders towards curbing the activities of illegal riders. Ali said he was surprised that many commercial motorcyclists were  involved in kidnapping, car-snatching, armed robbery, cultism and sundry crimes , urging ACOMORAN to partner with security agencies towards flushing out bad eggs in the business.

He however, insisted that compulsory registration of all commercial motorcyclists, use of operational jackets and numbers and working within stipulated hours would go a long way in drastically reducing criminal activities associated with okadas in the country.

The Police chief urged the association to partner with security agencies in the fight to curb crimes and also do all within its ambit to sanitize its membership in order to expose those tarnishing their image. He said: “I want to call on the association to be proactive in getting involved in security issues; partner with police and other security agencies. ACOMORAN must be seen to be above board.

“Commercial motorcyclists have to get involved in security issues. You must inform security agencies of any suspicious activities. Kidnapping, car-snatching, armed robbery and cultism have been on the rise. It is surprising that most riders are also involved in those activities. “The police are committed to fighting crime and criminalities in the state. Members of ACOMORAN must be seen to be above board.

But, in his reaction, the South West Chairman of  Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and  Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Samsudeen Apelogun stressed that commercial motorcycle activities remain one of the most critical sectors in the nation’s economy. Apelogun emphasised that the association is playing a great roles in tackling unemployment and ensuring revenue generation for the country.

Apelogun who kicked against the ban placed on commercial motorcycling in some states, warning state governments against indiscriminate ban of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as ‘Okada. He sated that such move without adequate alternatives would lead to further suffering of the people, adding that the banning would also engender a greater security threat.

He said over seven million Nigerians are already employed in commercial motorcycling transportation sub-sector, stressing that placing a ban on their activities would further worsen Nigeria’s “I hereby suggest that the government and stakeholders of those states should strengthen the commercial motorcycling sector and see how best they can contribute to the purse of the state.

“We also want to use this occasion to let the entire world know that commercial motorcycling is a business worth investing in because we have noble men and women and highly educated people as stakeholders in this association.” “We are professionals like any other professionals, that is why you always allow us to temporarily take charge of your life when you ask us to take you from one destination to another.”