By Chris Chikelue
Anambra State Government has warned residents that the ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles in Awka and Onitsha is still in place.
This is contained in this week’s Post Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) Release made available to the public on Tuesday, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu.
The state had on July I, 2018 called for the withdrawal of commercial motorcycle operation in its two major cities of Awka and Onitsha.
According to the August 23 Post ANSEC media release, the government said that it has come to the notice of it that commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as “Okada” have gradually found their ways back on the roads in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia.
“Their recklessness owing to lack of riding training and ignorance of traffic signs are beginning to produce high rate of avoidable accidents on our roads.
“Added to this is the fact that Okada has been fingered severally by law enforcement agents as being the major conveyor belt through which criminals ply their nefarious businesses.
“In the light of these ugly trends, the government hereby restates and reiterates that the ban on commercial motorcycles in our major cities such as Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia is still in force.”
The directive also made it clear that anyone caught violating the ban would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
However, for a place like Nnewi where private motorcycles are means of commuting to places of work and business, the government warned that the riders must wear crash helmets to protect their heads in case of accidents.
For companies that use motorcycles for courier services, dispatch services and home deliveries the government ordered that the motorcycles in use must be registered with the Ministry of Transport and their riders must be properly kitted.
The Government allowed for the operation of these commercial motorcyclists in sub-urban and rural areas where according to it, motor transport is scarce.
It also noted that plans were underway to have the sub-urban and rural Okada enumerated and branded in order to determine the genuine commercial motorcyclists and be able to track any operator who is involved in breaching the law.
The State Executive Council also in the release decried the rate of domestic violence in the state. It said, “ANSEC took exception to the increasing wave of domestic violence against spouses of both genders as it has been discovered that male spouses have also become victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic brutality or savagery in whatever form will no longer be tolerated in Anambra State. Anybody that is implicated in a case of domestic violence henceforth will be arrested and tried before a court of competent jurisdiction and punished accordingly.
“Spouses should learn to live in peace and harmony so that their lives would be worthy of emulation by their children and neighbours.’’
