imageAssociation begs FG to halt proposed motorcycle ban

/image
By uncovered.ng
Lagos, Nigeria, Aug. 3, 2022 -The Commercial Motorcycle Operators under the aegis of All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners & Workers Association, (ANACOWA), has urged the Federal Government to stop the proposed plan to ban the motorcycle riders in order to avoid increase in unemployment and crimes.
ANACOWA said the ban would not solve the security challenges it is set to tackle.
ANACOWA in conjunction with Civil Liberties Organisations, (CLO) on Wednesday in Lagos at a press conference described the measure as a totally wrong prescription.
uncovered.ng reports that ANACOWA is one of the many motorcycles association in Nigeria affiliated to the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, with membership strength of over 36 million.
Speaking, Commander Emmanuel Deji, the National President, ANACOWA, expressed concern on the likely effect of the proposed plan on their members and their dependents.
According to him, the proposed ban on activities of commercial motorcycles operators popularly known as Okada riders nationwide is not going down well with those who will be affected by the policy.
He stressed that the ban would cause more harm to the society than good.
Deji stated that it would only bring about hardship on the masses and bring about increase in crimes and criminality.
According to him, “It is a fact that security of any society is sacrosanct, we cannot take our security for granted.
“It is a statement of fact if we say that the country is in bad shape in term of security, some of the operators of Okada Nationwide are graduates from various University and unable to secure a legitimate and gainful employment but found solace in Okada business.
“Yet the government is planning to take the job from them without any alternative.
“What do we think it would become of millions of Okada operators if the plan is to be enforced?
It would be a serious security risk,” he explained.
Commenting on the economic implication, as well as giving recommendations, Deji said, “All over the world, emphasis are being focused on how to reduce poverty and address the social problems of the people, not increasing them.
He advised government to provide both basic and social amenities and create more employments to the teeming youths