A’Ibom bans Okada; buys off each bike at N50,000

Posted by admin Akwa Ibom, Headlines, State News Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Akwa Ibom State Government has finally banned the use of all motorcycles for any purpose within Uyo capital city. To show how serious the new directive which takes effect from Saturday, July 2, 2011, is, the state government has begun the purchase of motorcycles from their owners at a flat rate of N50,000 irrespective of the age of such bikes.

As at the time of filing this report, okada riders were seen rushing to the state ministry of works premises along Barracks Road (Wellington Bassey Way) Uyo, to hand in their bikes and collect the N50,000.00. The new directive was surprisingly handed down by the Deputy Governor, Mr Nisam Ekere, who became acting governor just last week when Gov. Godswill Akpabio proceeded on his first leave in about four years.
Ekere, at a meeting with the leadership of the Akwa Ibom Professional and Commercial Motorcyclists Association, (APCOMA), at Government House, Uyo, on Tuesday, explained that government was forced to take the decision to check the spate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other heinous crimes perpetrated by some unscrupulous persons using motorcycles.

He stressed that the State Government could not afford to fold its arms while these criminals continued to destroy the lives and properties of innocent citizens, adding that in preparation for the ban, Governor Godswill Akpabio in consultation with APCOMA had since set up a committee to work out palliative measures for the motorcyclists and their passengers.

The acting governor therefore announced the immediate release of 200 tricycles for distribution by the committee to members of APCOMA for use within the city and expressed the hope that those tricycles, in addition to 10 Marcopolo buses, 40 Toyota Hiace buses and 300 saloon cars, would cushion the effect the motorcycle ban will have on commuters.

To assist the affected motorcyclists get alternative means of livelihood, the Acting Governor said the State Government would immediately start purchasing the motorcycles from those with genuine proofs of ownership at a flat rate of N50, 000.00.

Any bike owner who fails to turn it in for purchase by government before the enforcement begins on Saturday, Ekere said, would thereafter have to obtain slips from the office of the Secretary to the State Government which would serve as permit to ride within a short period to the venue of the buy-off.

-Sunwp_posts