Ban on okada, keke will affect Nigeria’s economy – Amaechi
Ban on okada, keke will affect Nigeria’s economy – Amaechi
The Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi, has said that motorcycles and tricycles should not be banned nationwide because doing so would affect the nation’ s economy negatively.
Amaechi said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the celebration of the national day of Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria .
The minister advised state governments not to ban commercial cyclists but train them to reduce their recklessness on the road and ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations.
He said , “ I don ’ t think we should ban Okada because if we do , it will affect the economy ; they only need to be trained to obey rules and regulations.
“ The issue of security , safety and regulation should be dealt with at the state level ; state governments should train Okada riders . ”
He urged the operators avoid recklessness and obey traffic rules and regulations in order to reduce the rate of accidents .
According to him , commercial cyclists play vital roles in the transportation sector , especially in transporting agricultural produce where roads are not easily accessible .
He said , “ We know you play a vital role in the economy : Not all buses , taxis can access our roads for agricultural purposes; a lot of Nigerians depend on you because your services are cheap .
“ The economy cannot only grow through white collar jobs; everybody doesn ’ t need to depend on government and what you have done is to be self - employed to feed yourselves . ”
Shehu Babangida, National President of ACOMORAN , said that the day was an annual event designed to celebrate the informal sector in Nigeria .
He said the association ’ s 12 million membership had massively reduced the rate of unemployment and criminality in the country by engaging vulnerable youths .
The ACOMORAN president thanked the minister and former Zamfara governor, Senator Sani Yerima , as well as other dignitaries , for gracing the occasion .
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