By  Austin Ogwuda

Asaba—No fewer than 50 commercial motor-cycles, commonly called Okada, caught plying the streets of Asaba, Delta State capital in violation of the ban, have been impounded. Meantime, the initial exemption extended to military personnel due to the nature of the jobs has been cancelled due to abuse.

Reviewing the ban, which took effect on November 1, last year, the state Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa, told Vanguard, yesterday in Asaba, that “initially, we said because of the exigencies of their (military) work they can use it (okada) but we discovered that even using it has been abused and we said no, whether you are putting on your full regalia as a Major-General, whether you are wearing your uniform as a police officer, it doesn’t effect my work. If they flout the order, the motor-cycles will be recovered  from them.

“The policy now is that once we impound your motorbike, it is gone for ever. On the whole, we have about 50 impounded motor-bikes in our premises.”