ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Directorate of Transport has warned that the ban on the use of motorcycle (also known as Okada) as a means of transportation is still in force in Asaba, Warri, Effurun and Abraka.
The Ministry recalled that the State Government had on the 1st of November, 2012, placed a ban on the use of motorcycle for private or commercial purpose in the above mentioned towns to check incidence of crime, such as, armed robbery, snatching of bags, and trailing of bank customers by hoodlums.
The Directorate observed that some of the unlawful riders were Police Officers and other uniform law enforcement personnel of government who saying they were supposed to ensure that government directives were enforced.
It would be recalled that in order to check the security risk associated with the use of motorcycle or Okada on our roads, residents in Asaba had in a publication, in the Pointer Newspaper of 27th September, 2017, appealed to State Government and security agencies to stop the use of motorcycles as means of transportation, especially in the areas where their uses have been banned.
In response to the demand of residents in Asaba, the Directorate said that it would soon roll out a taskforce on enforcement as well as commence the confiscation of motorcycles found on restricted areas in Asaba and other areas of the State where the use of motorcycle have been banned.
The Directorate requested the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command to call on to Police Officers and other uniform law enforcement officers to desist from the use of motorcycle in Asaba, Abraka, Effurun and Warri in line with the ban placed by the Delta State Government.
It is stressed that defaulters would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent.
