UPDATE: We’ll Punish Any Security Personnel Extorting, Intimidating Innocent Motorcyclists – Abia Govt

The Abia state government has clarified that the ban on commercial motorcyclists is effective only at the city centres of Aba and Umuahia and not for those in the rural areas.

A statement issued on Monday, by Ferdinand Ekeoma,  Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity clarified also that the ban is not for private operators, adding that the ban became necessary for sanity, safety and security concerns.

The government warned security officials against intimidating or extorting innocent motorcyclists, noting that anybody found wanting, will be punished.

READ THE STATEMENT BELOW;

UPDATE ON THE BAN ON COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLES (OKADA ) WITHIN THE ABA AND UMUAHIA METROPOLIS.

For purpose of clarity, the ban on the Operations of Commercial Motorcyclists takes effect only at the City centres of Aba and Umuahia, hence the word “Metropolis” was used. Those plying the routes outside the City Centres are not affected by this directive. 

Again, as mentioned in the previous release; the ban is only on Commercial Motorcyclists, not on private operators. 

Sanity, safety and security concerns formed the basis for this decision as it was discovered that some Commercial Operators stray into the city centres to operate freely, a development that’s not in the best interest of the state.

Government shall take further action on this directive by ensuring that major parts of the city centres affected by the ban are properly marked as Tricycle Restricted Areas.

To ensure that some security agents do not take advantage of this directive to resort to extortion and intimidation of Motorcyclists outside the affected areas, Governor Otti has directed that measures be put in place immediately to ensure that any security agent caught molesting any innocent motorcycle operator will be punished.