The plan by the Federal Government to ban commercial motorcycle operation nationwide may end the financial means of the operators, forcing scores of the cyclists to resort to alternative ventures. SOLOMON AYADO (Abuja) BEATRICE GONDYI (Bauchi) MSUE AZA (Kaduna) YAHYA SARKI (Kebbi) HEMBADOON ORSAR (Makurdi) and HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO (Yola) report
The Federal Government had moved to ban Okada nationwide due to reported cases of crime allegedly committed by commercial motorcycle operators. Many of them have since abandoned the bike business to alternative financial sources in order to fend.
Afraid and somewhat confused of how life will fare when the proposed nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles will officially take effect, a middle aged Jamiu Seidu who operate the business in Zimbabwe, a satellite town located along Abuja-Keffi expressway is not sure of earning a living.
A brief interaction with the visibly disturbed Jamiu, a married man with six children clearly suggests nothing funny, depicting that life would definitely become difficult when the prohibition of commercial motorcycles will be formally declared.
But the ability of this uneducated man to zealously strive and succeed in the painful business to raise funds to marry, bear children, and upset the school fees of his wards show that commercial motorcycle operation is not a bleak venture.
Investigations have shown that Okada business is very lucrative. Apart from the young who engage in it, the old are not left out hence the abundant financial gains. Also, several graduates who are yet to secure jobs have resorted to it as alternative means of sustenance.
When LEADERSHIP visited some states across the country, it was discovered that motorcycle operators are not in anyway pleased with the plans of the federal government to ban Okada. They said the prohibition will render them jobless and prompt many to indulge in social vices.
At Kubwa town of Abuja, commercial motorcyclists have appealed to the federal government to have a rethink on the planned ban of Okada. This view was reechoed at the popular Dutse Alhaji Market where the cyclists had converged and were awaiting to convey passengers to some various destinations.
In Benue State, some of the motorcycle operators who spoke to our correspondent including Terna Azahan, Emmanuel Kalu and Yahaya Umaru, all faulted the proposed ban. They said through the business, Benue Motorcycle Association,(BENMOA) have secured loans for it members from the micro finance banks to engage in farming and other businesses. According to them, some of the registered members of the association are currently receiving motorcycles on credit basis.
To Aondofa Akor, the administration of President Buhari should leave up to its campaign promises of taking youths off the streets and to fulfill the payment of monthly stipend of N5000 to unemployed youths.
“I am a graduate of political science with second class lower division and this is my 7th year of graduation. I have applied virtually for every job advertisement including the local, state and federal but non has invited me for any interview. Based on this, I decided to go into soyabeans farming from the profit I made in Okada business. As you can see, I have a wife and two children, and it is this Okada business that is helping me to take care of my family in terms of payment of house rent, hospital bills and school fees,” he stated.
The situation is not different in Bauchi State. The commercial motorcyclists popularly referred to as Achaba have condemned in strong terms the proposed ban of their operations.
An Achaba rider, Hamisu Abubakar, 30, said in an interview that the proposed ban will rather increase crime rate in the country as many will be rendered jobless. According to him, “this is the only business I know and if it’s taken away, we can’t survive. If they ban Achaba, what is the alternative they will give to us.”
Another respondent Shafiu Isa,32, explained that most graduates and civil servants are into the business to make ends meet. “Most of the people you see engage in this Achaba business are working but because their salary is not enough and not paid regularly, they make ends meet through Achaba so that they can provide for their families.”
In Kebbi state, findings revealed that the commercial motorcyclists popularly known as ‘Kabu-Kabu’ has the highest number of members spread across the 21 local government areas of the state . Statistics obtained from the leadership of the organisation in Birnin Kebbi indicates that the organisation has over 45,000 members.
The chairman of Okada association in the state, Nafiu Zaki said the members earn their livelihood through the transport business and that there is obviously no need for the government to prohibit it.
In Kaduna State,the activities of commercial motorcycle operators were banned within the metropolis and some major towns since 2014, by former Governor Mukhtar Yero, following alleged security threats.
The government replaced Okada with tricycles popularly called Keke. At the moment, any person caught operating commercial motorcycle in the state risk three months imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine.
In Adamawa state, the commercial motorcyclists have decried the proposed ban. Abba Danmarka is a father of 13 children who has spent 25 years in the business. He said he makes N2000 to N3000 daily and that to ban Okada will render him jobless.
Ofcourse, considering the financial hardship that Okada ban may bring and owing to the security threats the business poses, the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) has moved to checkmate the criminality associated with its members. This, was also to resist the plan by the FG to prohibit the business nationwide.
Consequently, ACOMORAN in collaboration with an Abuja based firm, Clevland Investment Management has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Biometric Data capturing of all motorcycle and tricycle operators in the country in order to check the incidence of crime being perpetrated using tricycles and motorcycles.
The National President of ACOMORAN, Babangida Maihula explained in an interview that there have been lots of complaints that motorcyclist and tricycle riders always use their bikes for crimes in their communities, hence every strategy to stop such ugly unfold has failed.
According to him, members of the association also have had challenges where their bikes and tricycles are hijacked by hoodlums. He said “the MOU became imperative to ascertain the actual members of Okada and to keep track of all their activities in order to easily fish out criminal elements.” He said with the partnership, Clevland will be able to provide a comprehensive biodata of members of the association and as well install a tracking device on their bikes in order to recover them whenever they are stolen.
Head of Operation, Clevland Investment Management, Mr. Abdulkareem Ikharo said the activity will commence firstly with registering and capturing of the members, followed by tagging of the bikes and tricycles before the tracking devices will be finally installed.
As it stands, the proposed plan by the federal government to suspend commercial motorcycle operations in the country will seemingly cause more harm than good. But it is not sure whether the ban will really eradicate crime, only time shall tell.