BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – In its efforts to check intra-city crimes, the Niger State Government has resolved to partner with the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), in the state with a view to set up intelligence and discipline units in the association.
Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello, who announced this at the weekend when members of the association paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Minna, the state capital, said the development has become necessary in or der to ensure security, orderliness and safety on intra-city highways in the State.
Sani-Bello noted that security reports have shown that motorcycles are mostly used to engage in criminal activities in the state, hence the need for the association to put internal mechanism to check on bad eggs in its rank and file.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace said the governor promised to ensure capacity building for people that will be engaged by the association through training by the Police and the Directorate of State Services (DSS), so as to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
He further said; “I want to see that there is an intelligence unit in ACOMORAN to ensure security in the state. When the unit is set up, we will ensure that they undergo training with the police as well as the DSS. This is because those who engage in kidnapping and robbery use motorcycles to carry out these criminal activities.
“There is also the need for registration and display of plate numbers on every motorcycle to make it easy for security agencies to identify culprits who use motorcycles to commit crimes and it will also help in the identification of stolen motorcycles.”
He also emphasized the need for a disciplinary department which he said would be responsible for the systematic control of ensuring obedience and safety as the commercial motorcycle rider go about their business.
Governor Sani-Bello then solicited for the support of the association towards peaceful coexistence in the state, adding that the association would serve as a tool for sensitization as it is well structured.
He announced plans by his administration to acquire and make available tricycles which would be given out on loan to members of the association in order to boost their business and ensure their safety.
Earlier, chairman of ACOMORAN, Comrade Shafi Ladan commended Governor Sani-Bello for the giant strides recorded in the last three years of his administration and therefore called on the state government to make tricycles available to them through loan.
The association assured Sani-Bello of their support in the 2019 general elections.
