The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that the federal government will not ban use of Motorcycle ‘Okada’ and Tricycle as alternative means of transportation across the country.
The minister explained that banning the operators will lead to huge loss of jobs and will also affect the economy.
Ameachi also noted that there was need to establish rules and regulations that will guide the operators instead of placing a ban on the operators.
The minister said this in Abuja ON Tuesday at the 2017 National Day of Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motocycle Owners Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria, (ACOMORAN).
He said: “We will not ban operators of motorcycles and tricycles because we acknowledge the role you play nationally.
“Transportation is about logistics because we need to move people from one place to another and by so doing, create jobs and opportunities.
“We use trains and buses but we need to move people from their homes to the stations and that is where you come in. You contribute immensely to the economy and make transportation easily.
“Basically, you know that they are used for agricultural purposes too because farm produce are transported from one place to another.
The minister also promised to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria, commercial banks and other important institutions to ensure that the association and its members get soft loan to assist their work.
Commuters and commercial tricycle operators in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have urged the state government to review the restriction of commercial tricycle operation in parts of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Mr. Godwin Adindu said, inter alia, “Following the resurgence of sundry crimes in the two metropolises of Aba and Umuahia, the governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has reinforced the ban on the operation of Okada riders within the metropolis of Aba and Umuahia. All Keke operators should limit their operations to 7pm daily till further notice…The governor also warns all criminals in the state to run away from the state or face extermination.”
Some commercial tricycle operators described the ban as a welcome development since it is geared towards checking crime, but added that it was negatively affecting their businesses. Commuters equally complained about difficulty in movement since the enforcement of the ban.
The tricycle operators said, “We welcome the decision of the state government to tackle insecurity in the state. But we wonder why they should moved it from the 9pm it was before to 7pm. For us it is too early and on the allegation that most of the crimes committed by kidnappers and armed robbers were done using Keke, we want to say that in a twelve, there must be a Judas. But don’t they use cars to commit crimes? We have heard of “one chance” where some people pretending to be commercial bus drivers use their cars to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. Most of us, like most commercial bus drivers, load in one loading bay or the other. Nobody will use his keke registered with ASATOA or government recognised union for any illegal business. I am not saying that we (tricycle operators) are saints, but the basic thing is that the state government should properly equip the police and other security agencies in the state like Lagos recently did. Police on their own should build on intelligence gathering like their counterpart and also should learn to protect their source.
“I live around Obohia, I must tell you that the level of crime around my area is very high and the response time or police and other security agencies whenever we are under attack is very slow. If you call police that robbers are in our area, they will either come and arrest innocent people or shoot into the air when the robbers must have completed their assignment.”
A commuter who identified herself as Chinwe said she had to sleep in a hotel after a trip from Abuja before she could get to her residence the next day, as according to her, the road to her place is impassable except with a tricycle.
She however, called on the state government to adopt a more proactive measures in combating crimes in the state and to see how they can partner with the police to make logistics available to the security agencies, stressing that the 7pm ban on the operations of commercial tricycle operators will do little to tackle insecurity in the state, but would cause more hardship on the people.
“Life in Lagos is 24 hours. Go to Owerri, Akwa Ibom, Awka, Enugu State to mention but a few, you will agree with me that the state government has done enough to improve security situation in these towns. Why can’t such a thing be replicated in our state? We are talking a time when states are doing everything possible to encourage night life; a time for people to relax with friends including investors who may have spent more time during the daytime in one business meeting or the other. I am just coming back from Abuja after visiting Onitsha, Awka, amongst other cities, but I must tell you that business operators make more money at night than in the day time because government has it so. ASba is a commercial city that is being visited by people from other African countries and other parts of the world. We want to see business being on in Aba anytime of the day. People should be allowed free movement. Government should guarantee people adequate security. That is what we want and not banning of keke riders operational hours.”
Some traders and shop owners who sell food and provisions, decrying the ban said that it is affecting their business negatively.
A food vendor who sells noodles, fried eggs, beans and pap near Milverton said, “I and others that do the same business don’t have shops. We only sale in the night when owners of the shops we mounted canopy in front of might have gone home. That is to say that we do our business at night. Because of the ban, we have recorded low turnout of customers. Some of our customers especially the male folk are bachelors. You know that they don’t normally cook; they from us before going home. But since the new directives came from the state government, our market has not been going well, no thanks to the state of the nation’s economy. So many of our customers now hurry to go home. Thereby negatively affecting our businesses. So, we want government of the state to look into the order and see how they can help us. If it continues, it is going to kill night life in Aba. “
Commuters and commercial tricycle operators in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have urged the state government to review the restriction of commercial tricycle operation in parts of the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state government, Mr. Godwin Adindu said, inter alia, “Following the resurgence of sundry crimes in the two metropolises of Aba and Umuahia, the governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has reinforced the ban on the operation of Okada riders within the metropolis of Aba and Umuahia. All Keke operators should limit their operations to 7pm daily till further notice…The governor also warns all criminals in the state to run away from the state or face extermination.”
Some commercial tricycle operators described the ban as a welcome development since it is geared towards checking crime, but added that it was negatively affecting their businesses. Commuters equally complained about difficulty in movement since the enforcement of the ban.
The tricycle operators said, “We welcome the decision of the state government to tackle insecurity in the state. But we wonder why they should moved it from the 9pm it was before to 7pm. For us it is too early and on the allegation that most of the crimes committed by kidnappers and armed robbers were done using Keke, we want to say that in a twelve, there must be a Judas. But don’t they use cars to commit crimes? We have heard of “one chance” where some people pretending to be commercial bus drivers use their cars to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. Most of us, like most commercial bus drivers, load in one loading bay or the other. Nobody will use his keke registered with ASATOA or government recognised union for any illegal business. I am not saying that we (tricycle operators) are saints, but the basic thing is that the state government should properly equip the police and other security agencies in the state like Lagos recently did. Police on their own should build on intelligence gathering like their counterpart and also should learn to protect their source.
“I live around Obohia, I must tell you that the level of crime around my area is very high and the response time or police and other security agencies whenever we are under attack is very slow. If you call police that robbers are in our area, they will either come and arrest innocent people or shoot into the air when the robbers must have completed their assignment.”
A commuter who identified herself as Chinwe said she had to sleep in a hotel after a trip from Abuja before she could get to her residence the next day, as according to her, the road to her place is impassable except with a tricycle.
She however, called on the state government to adopt a more proactive measures in combating crimes in the state and to see how they can partner with the police to make logistics available to the security agencies, stressing that the 7pm ban on the operations of commercial tricycle operators will do little to tackle insecurity in the state, but would cause more hardship on the people.
“Life in Lagos is 24 hours. Go to Owerri, Akwa Ibom, Awka, Enugu State to mention but a few, you will agree with me that the state government has done enough to improve security situation in these towns. Why can’t such a thing be replicated in our state? We are talking a time when states are doing everything possible to encourage night life; a time for people to relax with friends including investors who may have spent more time during the daytime in one business meeting or the other. I am just coming back from Abuja after visiting Onitsha, Awka, amongst other cities, but I must tell you that business operators make more money at night than in the day time because government has it so. ASba is a commercial city that is being visited by people from other African countries and other parts of the world. We want to see business being on in Aba anytime of the day. People should be allowed free movement. Government should guarantee people adequate security. That is what we want and not banning of keke riders operational hours.”
Some traders and shop owners who sell food and provisions, decrying the ban said that it is affecting their business negatively.
A food vendor who sells noodles, fried eggs, beans and pap near Milverton said, “I and others that do the same business don’t have shops. We only sale in the night when owners of the shops we mounted canopy in front of might have gone home. That is to say that we do our business at night. Because of the ban, we have recorded low turnout of customers. Some of our customers especially the male folk are bachelors. You know that they don’t normally cook; they from us before going home. But since the new directives came from the state government, our market has not been going well, no thanks to the state of the nation’s economy. So many of our customers now hurry to go home. Thereby negatively affecting our businesses. So, we want government of the state to look into the order and see how they can help us. If it continues, it is going to kill night life in Aba. “
In a telephone chat with the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Government, Mr. Godwin Adindu said it was part of proactive measures by the state government decided to nip rising cases of insecurity in the bud, stressing that security reports have it that most of the crimes committed in the state were done using tricycles. Adindu who said that the ban was a “contingency option”, however stated that the state government could reverse the ban as soon as security situation in the state improves and regretted the inconveniences the ban may have caused the residents.
Police deserve respect from the public and the public deserve same from the police.
This is the view of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who stressed the need for partnership between them.
•Owoseni
Mr Owoseni was addressing members of tricycle operators who were protesting the killing of their member, Mr Godwin Ekpo by a police Corporal attached to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station in Alimosho area of Lagos State.
The protesters said the death of Mr Godwin in the hand of policemen was one of the many cases in which defenceless Nigerians had been “murdered” by policemen.
Sometime in the early 80s, the country was thrown into deep mourning for losing one of its high profile athletes, Dele Udoh.
To many, the concern and emotional outpouring was not just because of the death of the promising young man but because of the way in which he died.
Udoh, then a foreign-based athlete, was cut down in his prime by police bullets at a check-point in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos.
The “slaughter” of Udoh by an overzealous policeman was said to be as a result of an argument that ensued between them at the check-point. The police claimed that Dele’s death was as a result of “accidental discharge”. That was how and when “accidental discharge” became one of the lexicons in the police circle.
Despite the huge outcry over his death, what has become more worrisome now is that since after the death of the great athlete, many more innocent and defenseless Nigerians have been “murdered” by policemen for little or no reasons.
Despite efforts by government and police authorities to prevent some policemen from giving the institution bad name, the rate of killing keeps increasing.
Against the Inspector-General of Police’s and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni’s instruction against mounting of road blocks by policemen, an eight-man team from Isheri-Oshun Police Station in Alimosho area of Lagos, had mounted a checkpoint at Obalagbe bus stop Ijegun, where they allegedly extorted various sums of money from tricycle operators.
Obalagbe bus stop was the scene of the recent death in the hands of trigger-happy policeman attached to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station.
Mr Godwin Ekpo, his wife, Idongesit and their two-month-old baby were said to be returning from a church programme at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday last week when the eight-man police team stopped him and demanded money from him. He told them that he, with his family, was returning from a church programme.
As he moved to park well, it was gathered, one of the policemen identified as Aremu thought he was running away and fired a shot at the back of the keke. The bullet hit the woman in the neck. Her husband was also seriously wounded. Mrs Idongesit died instantly while her husband was rushed to Igando General Hospital and later moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for treatment; as his condition was said to be critical. The following day, it was alleged that Mr Godwin had also died.
Enraged by this, members of tricycle operators’ union Ikotun to which Godwin belonged went on protest.
In their numbers, the tricycle operators that ply the Ijegun-Ikotun route literally shot down Ikotun. They trooped out to the road on Thursday, September 17 to protest what they called frequent police brutality and killing of their members. Their placards explained their grievances. Some read, “Isheri Police, your generation will suffer,” “Stop killing us,” and “We are law-abiding citizens and have rights to life”, among others.
Tricycle operators protesting police killing of member
One of the leaders of the group, Osas Olobi said when members got wind of the death of their member; they had to gather to protest the killing.
“Last week at Iyana-Isheri bus stop, a policeman from the same station wanted to arrest one of our members for not giving him N100. As they were dragging over the matter, the policeman opened tear gas canister in his eyes. The man died the following week because he was asthmatic.
“We are tired of frequent police harassment and embarrassment. They do not allow us to operate freely as stipulated by law. They always extort money from us almost at every bus stop. Each operator spends not less than N2, 500 daily.
“Some of our members, 13 of them, were arrested and detained at the station for refusing to give them money. One of us called one woman who is a member of a human rights group. When she came, the DPO and his men manhandled and seized her camera and phone.
“Surprisingly, the DPO himself cocked his gun to shoot the woman and we shouted shoot, shoot so that we will know what will happen,” he said.
Kabiru Olaoye, one of the operators told Southwest Report that he was at his bus stop (Obalagbe) watching how the policemen were stopping and collecting money from tricycle operators.
He said: “It was around 10:00 p.m. when the man was stopped by the policemen. The man told them that he was returning from church with his family. The next thing I heard was a gunshot which had killed the wife of our member and seriously injured him.
“When I saw what happened, I started shouting and some residents quickly formed a crowd at the scene and prevented the policemen from leaving. They cocked their guns. Out of fear, the crowd dispersed and the policemen fled.
“Today (Thursday), we heard that Godwin, our member had died. That was why we are protesting.”
Another member of the tricycle drivers association in the area, Nse Okon, said tricycle drivers in the area were being constantly harassed by the police at the Isheri-Osun Police Station, adding that they have a peculiar mode of operation
Okon said: “Any time an operator is arrested, he will pay at least N2, 000 before he will be set free. I do not know whether we are working in order to take care of our various families or working to feed the police that are being paid with tax payers’ money. They connive with the head of Agbero to extort money from us.
Operator’s receipt of N100 bought at the cost of N1, 300
“Instead of buying the operator’s ticket for the stipulated N100, we buy them at the cost of N1, 300. We are handicapped as government has allowed them to decide our fate. Government should save us from the hands of these Agberos.”
Southwest Report gathered that policemen at that station were fond of unlawful arrest and detention of drivers who refused to give them money.
It was also gathered that the protest against the death of Mrs Idongesit who was breastfeeding a two-month-old baby, led to the release of 13 other tricycle drivers, who had been arrested and detained under contentious situations.
A visit to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station revealed that there were armed policemen in more than five security vehicles. An Armoured Personnel Carrier was also stationed very close to the station.
The member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Chinazo Ifechigha, who was allegedly assaulted by the police during the Thursday protest called for justice.
She accused the DPO of encouraging his men to molest and brutalise the masses that they were meant to protect.
“Because I refused to compromise my position as a member of a group that defends the defenseless and the voiceless, he said he would disgrace me before everybody.
“He pointed a gun at me and the crowd dared him to shoot. He then ordered his men to beat me up because I refused to give him my phone. He embarrassed me before the protesters. But I stand firm to get justice for the couple; and I want my phone back.”
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the incident, said the policeman, Aremu had been arrested and detained.
Addressing the protesters at Oropo bus stop in Ikotun, Mr Owoseni pleaded with them to be peaceful, adding that justice will be done.
He added that the DPO of Isheri-Oshun had also been issued with a query for disobeying the Inspector-General of Police’s instruction against mounting of roadblocks.
He said: “The police are doing all they can to ensure that the deceased’s children are taken care of. The police corporal involved has been taken into custody. When we complete all necessary disciplinary action, he will be charged to court for murder.
“The team leader and the DPO of Isheri-Oshun Police Station have also been issued queries for disobeying the IGP with regard to policemen performing duties without wearing their uniforms, and without a properly-labelled police van.
“The Inspector-General of Police does not condone such ugly acts. We at the Command headquarters here frown at it. I have visited the home of the deceased, I have seen their children and we sympathised with them. We will ensure that they are properly taken care of.”
He also stressed the need for community partnership and mutual trust among the police and the public.
A mob at the weekend apprehended three of a four-member robbery gang at Ox-Bow Lake, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
One of the suspects, identified simply as Jeff, was reportedly lynched; the others had been beaten up before a police patrol van arrived and took away the suspects.
Jeff, it was learnt, was among the suspected robbers who shot a commercial tricycle (Keke NAPEP) operator and dispossessed his two passengers of N3 million.
The hoodlums were said to have accosted the tricycle operator, shot him in the head and collected the money from his passengers, a couple, returning from a bank.
The gunshot reportedly attracted workers at nearby building sites.
Some residents were said to have run to the scene and chased the hoodlums.
A resident, who spoke in confidence, said: “The robbers had one gun. The mob moved closer and apprehended three of them. They were almost beaten to death before the arrival of a police patrol team.”
It was gathered that Jeff died while the police were conveying him to the hospital, following the injury he sustained from the beating.
Police spokesman Asinim Butswat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), urged the public not to take the law into their hands.
He said: “On September 12, at noon, four armed young men – Aya Victor (23), Ebi Godwin (20), Ejike Igwe and Jeff (surname unknown), drove a Volkswagen car with registration number AL 305 AGU and blocked a tricycle that was carrying Mr and Mrs Eric Oyibodokoye, at Oxbow Lake, Swali, Yenagoa.
“The suspects shot the tricyclist in his head, collected the N3 million from the occupants and zoomed off.
“Policemen were alerted and three members of the gang were arrested by the residnts, but were apprehended beaten up before the arrival of the policemen. The tricyclist and the suspects were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for medical attention.
“One of the suspects, Jeff, later died. His body has been deposited at the same hospital for autopsy. The fourth suspect was trailed and arrested at Swali community in possession of a locally-made pistol and N144,500, part of the stolen money.
“The public is advised to continue to support the police in fighting crimes. But they should not take the law into their hands by beating suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”
Some residents of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, have welcomed the restriction of commercial tricycle and motorcycle movement in the state, saying they hoped it would keep kidnappers at bay.
Others were not quite sure if the restriction was what would curb kidnapping, some adding that it hurts operators who have families to feed.
The state government, adopting the policy of its immediate predecessor, banned motorcycle operators from working in the capital city, Umuahia and Aba, while tricycle operators are allowed in both cities only between 6am and 7pm.
However, motorcyclists are permitted on the outskirts and communities.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu, in a statement, said,
“Security reports confirm that these hoodlums operate with keke (tricycle) and Okada motorbike.
“As part of the security measures to check the activities of these hoodlums, government is hereby re-enforcing the old rule and order as it relates to the operation of keke riders and okada riders in Abia State.
“Henceforth, Keke riders are only allowed to operate within the hours of 6am and 7pm in Aba and Umuahia, while okada remains banned in the metropolis. Okada can only operate in the outskirts and communities. This order takes effect immediately.
“The Government is determined to maintain law and order and protect the life and property of the law abiding citizens and therefore warns all criminals and evil minded persons to desist from their evil acts or face the full weight of the law.
“The government is also using this medium to remind the people to be security conscious and to offer information to security agencies through the free security toll lines”.
A resident who gave his name as Chidi Madu told our correspondent, “It was a good decision by the state government. I’m sure you know that in recent times, kidnapping and abduction of Aba residents have been on the increase. Though the ones I have heard were entirely carried out using the individual’s car. But one cannot rule out the use of Keke to trail and whisk their victims to beat security men on patrol and those of them at strategic checkpoints.
“But my fear is that some security agencies will take advantage of this to exploit the commercial tricycle operators. Government should also spell out their position on the use of motorcycle within the urban areas by security personnel whom it seems that those civilians were emulating to be riding their own machines on the road.
Corroborating Madu’s position, a tricycle operator alleged “recently we were asked to remove the rail tarpaulin even when they know that we are in the rainy season and that we use it shield our customers from the rain. Unannounced, they (police) started stopping us and charging us. The amount of money you pay depends on your power to negotiate.
They collect as much as N10, 000 from us. I am sure that their ogas are not aware of what their junior officers are doing. There should be proper sensitisation of the public before they start enforcing such orders. Look around, you can’t see any keke with the tarpaulin again and we are on the losing side especially when it start raining because no one want to be inside keke and being beaten by the rain.
“For us to resume work by 6am is good, but I want them to also consider extending the time we close work. Let them please extend it to 8pm”, he pleaded.
Another resident that simply gave his name as Ephraim while commending the government for showing concern over the security of its citizens also called on the government to also provide an alternative that would cushion the effect of the ban.
“Government decision is good. But the problem I have with that is that they (government) have not been able to provide alternative means of transportation that would be conveying people home from 7pm till may be 10 or so as the case may be.
“The order I was coming back from Port Harcourt. I actually came in very late and on getting to Milverton, I couldn’t see any keke that will take me home. I trekked home from park road to Ogbor Hill and you can imagine how stressful it was for me that day.
If government is banning the commercial tricycles from operating after 7pm, they should provide alternative through which the people in Aba and Umuahia can get to their homes and don’t forget that there are places keke will enter and buses won’t because of the terrain of some places in Aba especially,” Ephraim said.
Are you a commercial motorcyclist (okada) or tricyclist? Do you know that you risk a three-year imprisonment and the forfeiture of your vehicle if caught riding on prohibited roads and bridges in Lagos State?
From today, it is an offence to ride without a helmet (for bicycle riders), or to ride on unapproved roads – such as highways and bridges – as enforcement of the Traffic Law begins.
Governor Akinwumi Ambode on June 25 gave the leadership of the two unions 21 days to educate their members on the need to leave the roads or face prosecution. The ultimatum expired last Thursday, but was extended to Tuesday because of the Sallah holidays.
According to the law, penalty for riding against traffic or on prohibited routes is three-year imprisonment, which may be commuted to community service and the forfeiture of the vehicle.
A Ministry of Transportation (MoT) source said the government is ready to enforce the laws and would give the unions or operators no further notice.
He said the government is angry at the impunity with which cyclists and tricyclists flout the laws guiding their operations.
The Police and other security agencies, he said, had been adequately briefed to begin enforcement immediately the deadline expires.
No further awareness would be made to prevent the operators from ganging up to thwart government’s efforts,the official said.
He said though the motorcyclists have a right to engage in legitimate business, such must be done in accordance to the law.
He said: “Government, realising their values and contributions to the economy, had decided that rather than an outright ban of motorcycles as a means of transportation as other states have done, their operations must be restricted to 475, out of the 9,100 road networks.”
In line with Section 3 and Regulation 16 sub-section (4), (5), and (6) of the Road Traffic Law, commercial motorcycles are restricted from 475 of the 9,100 road networks in the state and must always wear standard crash protection helmet, and ensure same for his passenger.
They are also banned from carrying more than one passenger, children or pregnant women. They must not operate okada beyond 8pm in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja and beyond 10pm in other areas of the state.
They are also barred from riding on the kerb, median or road setbacks or on opposite direction of traffic, or in any direction prohibited by law and to respect traffic laws and regulations.
Motorcycle and tricycle operators have been issued a 21 day ultimatum by the Lagos State government to vacate restricted routes. Anyone caught after the period it said, would face prosecution.
According to the law, penalty for riding against traffic or riding on prohibited routes is a three years imprisonment, which may be commuted to community service and the forfeiture of the vehicle.
Secretary to the State Government Mr Tunji Bello, who broke the news Thursday, while addressing reporters said the resolution, was taken after series of consultative meetings with the leadership of the
various motorcycle and tricycle associations.
He said the government is angry at the impunity with which okada and tricycle operators flout the laws guiding their operations. He said government would no longer tolerate the recalcitrant attitude of the
operators.
The SSG said government would not allow a return to the recent past where crime rate and road accidents caused by unruly motorcycle riders were prevalent, before it begins the enforcement of the Road Traffic Law.
He therefore directed them to call their members to order.
He said, government, realising their values and contributions to the economy, decided that rather than outright ban of motorcycles as a means of transportation like other states, had restricted them to 475
roads out of the 9,100 road networks.
He therefore warned the operators against testing the will of the government in sanitizing transportation in the state.
Bello stated further that the Lagos State Government being a listening and compassionate one, has directed a massive public enlightenment that will precede the full enforcement of the restriction order to sensitise all operators and residents on the need to conform to the law.
Bello emphasised that in line with the dictate of Section 3 and Regulation 16 sub-section 4,5, and 6 of the Road Traffic Law, commercial motorcycle are restricted from 475 of the 9100 road networks in the state and must always wear standard crash protection helmet with full protection for both the rider and passenger.
They are further banned from carrying more than one passenger, non-carriage of children or pregnant women, and must not operate okada beyond 8.00pm in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja and beyond 10.00pm
in other areas of the State.
They are also barred from riding on the kerb, median or road setbacks or on opposite direction of traffic, or in any direction prohibited by law and to respect traffic laws and regulations.
The leadership of the motorcycle and tricycles operators thanked the government for taking them into confidence before commencing the enforcement.
They promised to pass the message to their members and carry out their own enforcement before the State’s deadline.
The National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners’ and Riders Association, (NACTOMORAS), has said it will mobilise 10 million votes for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election during March 28 polls.
Its President Alhaji Sani Hassan, in a statement yesterday said their endorsement of the President was a show of appreciation for “all the good things he has done for them”.
Hassan, who said his members engaged in a solidarity march for Jonathan across Abuja, described the President as the father of tricycle operators.
According to Alhaji Hassan: We have over 9 million members that we are controlling in the country. Apart from that, we also have people we are partnering with our transport sector like dealers, importers and the spare parts sellers and those that are selling food to our members.
“Our mother-in-laws and our fathers-in-law, all of them are going to team up with the association and vote massively when the presidential election comes on March 28 for President Goodluck Jonathan.
“By the grace of God, we are going to mobilise nothing less than 10 million votes for him.”
