FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGE STATES TO INTEGRATE MOTORCYCLES OPERATION IN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Motorcycle Owners Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria,(ACOMORAN) ,in Abeokuta.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Mass Transit Administration in the Ministry, Foluke Oni, the minister also advised that, the integration should be extended to the local government levels.
He emphasized, that there was no basis to phase out motorcycle and tricycle operations,arguing that contributions of the two to development of transportation cannot be jettison.
The minister also added that they serve as primary means of transportation in some society in Nigeria and pointed out that it is rational to allow the citizenry “chose any means of transportation that suit them.”
He, however, advocated for continuous use of helmets by drivers, training and re-training as well as insurance for motor cyclists, trycylists and the users to guarantee safety on the roads.
“There is need for states and local governments to integrate these tricycles and motor cycles operations into their mode of transportation and should begin to think more on how to enhance their operations rather than thinking of phasing them out’, he said
“Tricycles and motor cycles are important in the area of provision of essential and easy to reach transportation all over the country’, the minister stated.
“Just like in the developed nation, we should ensure that the citizenry have the opportunity of choosing the form of transportation that best suit them, he stressed.
“There is need therefore for greater understanding of inevitable presence of tricycles and motor cycles operators for an improved and affordable transportation access for rural and some urban dwellers”, he added
In his own remark,Ogun State Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun urged the Okada and tricycle riders to cooperate with transport agencies and security agencies for smooth transportation system.
Amosun pointed out that his administration in its bid to ensure free flow of transportation within the State had put in place traffic lights and signs.
He urged them to ensure prompt payment of their taxes to the covers of the State, assuring that the government would continue to construct new roads as well as renovates the existing ones.
The National President of the association, Sheu Babangida Mehula said that his members have become responsible and owners of property, urging the government to continue provide them conducive environment for them to operate.
He disclosed that Federal government in collaboration with security agencies would soon launch Road Crime Control System,(RCCS), to tackle criminal activities in the transportation system.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Chairman, Samsudeem Apelogun expressed concern over the public perception about ACOMORAN members “as touts and never-do-wells.”
The association boss pointed out that his members play strategic roles in the socio-economic development of the society in revenue and employment generation.
“Bad eggs among its members have been sent packing, while constant training and retraining of Okada riders as part of welfare package’,Apelogun said
He added that secretariat was actualisation of a campaign promise to give ACOMORAN a befitting edifice as secretariat.
