Association faults resolution to ban commercial motorcycles in states
NAN-H-76
Motorcycles
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Sokoto, Aug.28, 2017 (NAN) Alhaji Shehu Babangida, the National President, Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycles Owners Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), has faulted the 2014 National Council on Transport’s resolution to ban commercial motorcycles in states.
Babangida raised the complaint at the 2017, 15th National Council on Transport (NCT) held on Monday in Sokoto with the theme: “Efficiency of Intermodalism in Transportation.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the 2014 NCT resolution had discouraged the use of commercial motorcycles as a means of public transportation in states.
He said that after the 2014 council meeting, there had been almost zero compliance to that resolution because the association was talking with State Governments to review the matter.
“The compliance is almost zero per cent because I know that I have been talking with most of the state governors and I have not heard one that said he will ban “okada’’ because of its enormous importance.
“I also understand that there is no single governor from Nigeria, who was elected into office without patronising commercial motorcyclists which made 80 per cent of their supporters nationwide.
“Our minister Rotimi Amaechi, made it categorically clear that this policy is an anti-people policy and he does not think this is actionable, so I am making this observation.
“Whatever motion needs to be made, should take a common phase that can be actionable, something that can be achieved so that this council will not turn to an annual lectures,’’ he said.
Earlier, Sabiu Zakari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, said that the resolution was made at the last council meeting in 2014 which would be reviewed by the minister on Wednesday Aug. 30.
He, however, said that the decision would be taken by the minister of transportation, “who is the chairman of the council whether it should be stepped down or stand.
“This was the council resolution of 2014, I won’t know who and who among us here was there in 2014 when that decision was taken.
“We on this side we are only presenting what was resolved in 2014 and this is 2017, the decision will be taken by our principal on Wednesday, Aug.30, 2017.
“This is an issue which will be tabled before them, they have every opportunity to stand with that or to revise it, whatever decision is taken our own is to go on with the implementation,’’ Zakari said. (NAN).
TY/GOM/AFA
===========
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide