Operators of commercial tricycles and motorcycles have kicked against Federal Government’s plan to impose a ban on the use of motorcycles as part of the plan to curb insecurity.
They said executing such plan will prove counterproductive.
The operators, under the aegis of the Almalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), made their position known during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.
National President of ACOMORAN, Alhaji Samsudeen Apelogun, said an outright ban may throw over 40 million Nigerians who eke a living through motorcycles into the saturated labour market.
He said the membership base of the body is about 12,000 out of which 6,000 persons have been registered.
He also warned of the economic and security implications, saying besides impoverishing millions of Nigerians, it would further compound the anti-social vices government is trying to contain.
The Federal Government, arising from the National Security Council meeting on July 21st, 2022, gave indications that it might be compelled to ban the use of motorcycles and suspend mining activities to cut out movement by bandits and source of amassing ransom from kidnap victims.
But opposing the move, the leadership of ACOMORAN said the government lacks effective security architecture.
The union also called on the government to overhaul intelligence gathering mechanism, rather than create another monster that will ultimately add salt to the injury.
Apelogun said:” Commuters see motorcycles as a relief to their transportation problems while motorcycle riders see their adventure as a source of livelihood. Without a doubt, the use of motorcycles has enhanced mobility for the middle and income earners which by extension has contributed to an increase in production through an increase in man hours.
“Let me put it on record that from experience, 95 percent of those you see riding motorcycles are doing it because they don’t have better options but they don’t want to take to crime.
“If ten million of these 40million people they plan to render jobless take to crime, can the government contain them? If you attribute the movement of terrorists to motorcycles, don’t criminals operate with vehicles?
“When terrorists regrettably attacked Kuje prison, was it the motorcycle riders that caused the failure of intelligence gathering?
“If they rode motorcycles there, how were they able to beat all the security checkpoints to get to such a fortified facility? Was it motorcycles that made it possible for them to overpower the security agents attached to the facility? Are motorcycles also responsible for the late re-enforcement?
“If the security architecture is not working, the government should rejig it or do a total overhauling instead of blaming motorcycle operations for the failure of security agencies, thereby creating another monster that will ultimately add salt to injury.”
Apelogun advised the government which he noted is at its twilight, “to concentrate on how to alleviate the agonies of the citizenry against this move that will further compound their pains.”
On the possible solutions, ACOMORAN president, provided some practical ideas on how to fight criminality.
According to him: “First, the government should revive the economy for businesses to thrive. Today, the naira exchanges at N630 to a US Dollar, and this deal a terrible blow to businesses.
“The epileptic natures of our power supply have grounded many small-scale industries thereby making it difficult for artisans to operate. If a solution is found to power supply today, I am very confident that many of the youths who are involved in criminality will be gain-fully emplpyed or engaged.
“In summary, if the government can provide a stable power supply, organize the Bank of Transportation to cater to the transportation sector, revive our economy, make naira exchange at a reasonable rate against the dollar and other foreign currencies, provide infrastructure and an enabling environment for businesses and investors to drive or ply their trades as well as provide security agencies, especially the police that is in change of the enforcement of law and order with the need d tools and motivation.
“To work, the rate of criminality will drastically drop to a minimal level.”