Banning of okada riders in Plateau State

Jonah Jang

The Plateau State government has re-enforce the banning of commercial motorcycle operators also known as okada riders from operating in the state capital, especially in areas covered by the Greater Jos master plan  with effect from today. This is to check the insecurity situation in the state and sanitise the transportation system. In the past, the state government has tried to ban the commercial motorcycle operators from operating but has led to crisis in the state. 

Mr. Abraham Yiljap, the State Commissioner for Information, at a joint press conference with security agencies alongside other major stakeholders said the ban was backed up by law, which passed through the state House of Assembly and accented to by the executive.

The ban was received with an open arms by the security agencies due to the security threat the operations of the motorcyclists had posed to law and order in the state as well as the support of stakeholders committed to the implementation of the Greater Jos master plan. In order to meet up with demand, 120 buses, 300 taxicabs had been released and more tricycles would be procured to complement those already on ground.

In his contribution at the briefing, the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Chris Hassan, said apart from the tricycles, taxicabs and buses released by the state government, any private individual who wanted to operate commercial motorcycles must be registered with the appropriate government agencies.

“It is not a monopoly kind of thing but any individual who wants to operate such must do so in consonance with the appropriate government agencies. All those that had been given are expected to pay so that the government can plough the money back to acquire more,” he said. According to him, those that had been given by the government were expected to start paying after six months and therefore, implored such beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Ayeni, however, appealed to the people of the state not to attach sentiment to the prohibition, adding that it was for the good of all.