NAN-H-129
Pledge
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, March 15, 2017 (NAN) Commercial motorcyclists in Oyo State on Wednesday pledged to comply with safety and traffic rules associated in their operations.
They spoke at a sensitisation programme organised by the Community Relations Unit of Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commercial motorcyclists agreed to use safety helmets, obtain driver’s licences and refrain from overloading.
Other resolutions were to obtain number plates, visit the hospital first in the case of accidents and rid parks of alcohol and other illicit drugs.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi had called on commercial motorcyclists to embrace the various safety precautions and traffic rules to reduce the incessant traffic crashes and avoidable deaths.
Ajimobi, who was represented at the forum by Dr Gbade Ojo, his Chief of Staff, said that it was the responsibility of the state government to protect lives and properties of residents.
‘‘Government spends huge amount of money at various hospitals on avoidable traffic crashes mostly associated with Okada operations and have lost several of its citizenry to recklessness.
‘‘The state government has no intention of banning Okada operations in the state but would not condone recklessness and disobedience to rules and regulations guiding such operations,’’ he said.
He stated that enforcement of rules and regulations by concerned agencies, which had earned their members sanctions was not wickedness, but an effort to prevent them from hazards associated with their operations.
The governor said that his administration had achieved a lot in the provision of infrastructure.
Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations, said that the programme was organised to reduce the avoidable deaths and injuries caused by the recklessness of commercial motorcyclists.
‘‘Okada operations has to a large extent become a menace to the society, considering the needless and avoidable carnage they have inflicted on the society.
‘‘We have noticed that the major problems with the riders is indiscipline and disregard for law and order,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the State Commissioner for Health, called on commercial motorcyclists to comply with the various safety rules associated with their operations.
In their submissions, Mr Yusuf Salami and Mr James Opatola, FRSC Sector Commander and Vehicle Licensing Officer , respectively, listed drug abuse, indiscipline and total disregard for law and order as major causes of increase in road traffic crashes.
Mr Bolaji Olugbade, the State Chairman, Commercial Motorcycle Section of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), commended the state government for the sensitisation programme.
Olugbade pledged that his members would comply with the resolutions made at the programme.
He, however, appealed to the state government to assist their members in the acquisition of safety helmets.. (NAN)
TAA/MOL/OJO
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(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Mufutau Ojo)