Vunderkind
Social Member
Asks Joy Odigie, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
In the past, motorcycles were used purely for private purposes.
However, observers note that nowadays, the situation has changed dramatically, owing to certain factors.
They argue that the rising unemployment among youths and the yearning of the general public for a cheaper means of transportation, especially within short distances, have made the use of motorcycles for public transportation more expedient and acceptable across the country.
Analysts, however, maintain that the contributions of motorcycles as means of transportation to the socio-economic activities in many communities across the country are quite significant.
They note that many households eke out a living from commercial motorcycling which has grown to become an accessible and adaptable means of transportation.
They, nonetheless, argue that the operations of commercial motorcyclists have, in recent times, been a veritable source of concern to security agencies.
In Edo State, for instance, commercial motorcyclists have, on many occasions, been implicated in some criminal activities such as robbery, kidnapping and gangsterism, among others.
Apart from that, concerned citizens of the state insist that accidents, induced by the recklessness of commercial motorcycle operators, are on the increase.
Such concerns, perhaps, informed the decision of Gov. Adams Oshiomhole to ban the operations of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas of the state
In his broadcast on June 17, 2013, the governor said that the decision to outlaw the operations of the commercial motorcyclists was taken after a State Security Council meeting which reviewed the security situation in the state.
Commenting on the policy, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, the Commissioner of Police in Edo, lauded the ban, stressing that over 90 per cent of the crimes in the state were perpetrated with the use of motorcycles.
Besides, Dr Peter Egbor, a surgeon at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, noted that cases of bone fractures arising from motorcycle accidents were rampant before the ban.
Naturally, the prohibition did not go down well with motorcycle operators and some residents who preferred motorcycles as a means of transportation.
Some residents staged a protest against the government decision, arguing that after the ban, transportation fares increased, while the prices of bicycles and motor cars also shot up.
Reacting to the protest, Oshiomhole assured the residents that a committee had been set up to work out various schemes, including vehicles’ purchase plans.
He said that the use of tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, would not be encouraged in the state, describing the tricycle ``as a symbol of poverty.
The governor, thereafter, inaugurated 100 Suzuki cars, which were procured by Ikpoba Okha Local Government Council, for distribution to some of the former commercial motorcyclists.
``The value of these vehicles demonstrates how a local government can complement the efforts of the state government.
``I had to take the painful but inevitable decision to ban the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes in the three core local government areas that constitute the heart of Benin City.
``I promise that we would try to provide palliative jobs for the operators, while taking long-term decisions to increase the fleet of commercial buses and provide cars for any interested operators.
``The ban is just one sacrifice we all have to make to make our state safe; it is a settled issue because investors will not to go to any state with unacceptable crime levels.
``We cannot continue like this; I, therefore, reached the painful conclusion that it is time to do something and we cannot postpone it further,’’ he said.
Oshiomhole said that even though he was concerned about the level of unemployment in the state, he was, nonetheless, convinced that tangible efforts should be made to attract potential investors to state, as part the job-creation strategies.
Mr Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide, the Chairman of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Council, said that the cars’ presentation to the ex-commercial motorcyclists would be in two phases.
He said that the choice of Suzuki cars was based on their cost effectiveness, ruggedness and the three-year warranty provided by the manufacturers.
Speaking, Mr Louis Adaa, a Benin-based traditional bone setter, said: ``I like the ban on commercial motorcycles because it has reduced accidents in the state.’’
Adaa recalled that prior to the ban; he usually received a lot of patronage from people, particularly those whose bones were fractured in motorcycle accidents, on a daily basis.
Also speaking, Mr Luka Ikpi, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Edo, said that accidents, involving motorcycles, significantly dropped from 122 in 2012 to 34 in 2013.
Ikpi attributed the reduction to the ban on commercial motorcycles in some parts of the state.
All in all, observers commend the state government for outlawing commercial motorcycles in some areas of the state.
All the same, they urge the government to alleviate the hardships of the residents, particularly commercial motorcyclists, by creating jobs, purchasing more vehicles and initiating pragmatic youth empowerment schemes.
In the past, motorcycles were used purely for private purposes.
However, observers note that nowadays, the situation has changed dramatically, owing to certain factors.
They argue that the rising unemployment among youths and the yearning of the general public for a cheaper means of transportation, especially within short distances, have made the use of motorcycles for public transportation more expedient and acceptable across the country.
Analysts, however, maintain that the contributions of motorcycles as means of transportation to the socio-economic activities in many communities across the country are quite significant.
They note that many households eke out a living from commercial motorcycling which has grown to become an accessible and adaptable means of transportation.
They, nonetheless, argue that the operations of commercial motorcyclists have, in recent times, been a veritable source of concern to security agencies.
In Edo State, for instance, commercial motorcyclists have, on many occasions, been implicated in some criminal activities such as robbery, kidnapping and gangsterism, among others.
Apart from that, concerned citizens of the state insist that accidents, induced by the recklessness of commercial motorcycle operators, are on the increase.
Such concerns, perhaps, informed the decision of Gov. Adams Oshiomhole to ban the operations of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas of the state
In his broadcast on June 17, 2013, the governor said that the decision to outlaw the operations of the commercial motorcyclists was taken after a State Security Council meeting which reviewed the security situation in the state.
Commenting on the policy, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, the Commissioner of Police in Edo, lauded the ban, stressing that over 90 per cent of the crimes in the state were perpetrated with the use of motorcycles.
Besides, Dr Peter Egbor, a surgeon at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, noted that cases of bone fractures arising from motorcycle accidents were rampant before the ban.
Naturally, the prohibition did not go down well with motorcycle operators and some residents who preferred motorcycles as a means of transportation.
Some residents staged a protest against the government decision, arguing that after the ban, transportation fares increased, while the prices of bicycles and motor cars also shot up.
Reacting to the protest, Oshiomhole assured the residents that a committee had been set up to work out various schemes, including vehicles’ purchase plans.
He said that the use of tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, would not be encouraged in the state, describing the tricycle ``as a symbol of poverty.
The governor, thereafter, inaugurated 100 Suzuki cars, which were procured by Ikpoba Okha Local Government Council, for distribution to some of the former commercial motorcyclists.
``The value of these vehicles demonstrates how a local government can complement the efforts of the state government.
``I had to take the painful but inevitable decision to ban the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes in the three core local government areas that constitute the heart of Benin City.
``I promise that we would try to provide palliative jobs for the operators, while taking long-term decisions to increase the fleet of commercial buses and provide cars for any interested operators.
``The ban is just one sacrifice we all have to make to make our state safe; it is a settled issue because investors will not to go to any state with unacceptable crime levels.
``We cannot continue like this; I, therefore, reached the painful conclusion that it is time to do something and we cannot postpone it further,’’ he said.
Oshiomhole said that even though he was concerned about the level of unemployment in the state, he was, nonetheless, convinced that tangible efforts should be made to attract potential investors to state, as part the job-creation strategies.
Mr Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide, the Chairman of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Council, said that the cars’ presentation to the ex-commercial motorcyclists would be in two phases.
He said that the choice of Suzuki cars was based on their cost effectiveness, ruggedness and the three-year warranty provided by the manufacturers.
Speaking, Mr Louis Adaa, a Benin-based traditional bone setter, said: ``I like the ban on commercial motorcycles because it has reduced accidents in the state.’’
Adaa recalled that prior to the ban; he usually received a lot of patronage from people, particularly those whose bones were fractured in motorcycle accidents, on a daily basis.
Also speaking, Mr Luka Ikpi, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Edo, said that accidents, involving motorcycles, significantly dropped from 122 in 2012 to 34 in 2013.
Ikpi attributed the reduction to the ban on commercial motorcycles in some parts of the state.
All in all, observers commend the state government for outlawing commercial motorcycles in some areas of the state.
All the same, they urge the government to alleviate the hardships of the residents, particularly commercial motorcyclists, by creating jobs, purchasing more vehicles and initiating pragmatic youth empowerment schemes.