Operators of commercial tricycles and motorcycles in Nigeria have called on Federal Government not to impose a ban on the use of motorcycles in the country as part of the plan to curb insecurity saying executing such a plan will prove counterproductive.
National President of ACOMORAN, Alhaji Samsudeen Adebayo Apelogun made the Call in Abuja
He said an outright ban may throw over 40 million Nigerians who earn a living through motorcycles into the saturated labour market, disclosing that the membership base of the body is about 12, out of which 6,000 persons have been registered.
It equally warned of the economic and security implications, saying besides impoverishing millions of Nigerians, it would further compound the anti-social vices government is trying to contain.
Recall that federal government arising from the National Security Council meeting on July 21st, 2022, gave indications that it might be compelled to ban the use of motorcycles and suspend mining activities as both had been discovered to be a major means of movement by bandits and source of amassing ransom from kidnap victims.
But opposing the move, the leadership of ACOMORAN said the government should overhaul their intelligence gathering mechanism, rather than creating another monster that will ultimately add salt to the injury.
Apelogun said, ” Commuters see motorcycles as a relief to their transportation problems while motorcycle riders see their adventure as a source of livelihood. Without a doubt, the use of motorcycles has enhanced mobility for the middle and income earners which by extension has contributed to an increase in production through an increase in man hours.
“Let me put it on record that from experience, 95 percent of those you see riding motorcycles are doing it because they don’t have better options but they don’t want to take to crime.
“If ten million of these 40million people they plan to render jobless take to crime, can the government contain them? If you attribute the movement of terrorists to motorcycles, don’t criminals operate with vehicles?
BELLO WAKILI
