Okada Ban: Union Eyes Digital Identification For Members
National President of ROMAN, Alhaji Olusola Razaq, who disclosed the plans in Abuja during a sensitisation programme packaged for its members at the Karu area of the FCT, said the move is to guard against an outright ban by the Federal and States governments owing to unregulated activities of commercial motorcyclists.
Razaq said in a statement on Sunday that the Association’s leadership has already engaged an ICT company to carry out a digital image capturing of all members nationwide for proper identification, adding; “The reason we are here is to inaugurate the FCT executives ahead of the national reforms as ordered by the Federal Government.
“And like I said, we have gotten a company that will create a database for our members to ensure proper Identification of all members since there are other existing unions across the country.”
Furthermore, he said plans were also ongoing to seek the establishment of a National Regulation Act for the association from the National Assembly (NASS), noting that the reason for despising the activities of commercial motorcyclists is due to their unregulated operations nationwide.
For him; “The days are gone when Okada riders are used for political thuggery. Of course, we know that the new INEC electoral Act does not give room for such practice anymore. So, our efforts now is to ensure that Okada riders are well-sensitised like every other Nigerian who can also live their normal lives like good citizens of this country.
“We are also negotiating with the Federal Road Safety Commission and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) on the issue of members getting their number plates, to stop disobeying road rules, avoid road crashes, and sudden deaths.
“We are also doing this to help millions of Nigerians get out of poverty because many families have waited for white-collar jobs endlessly. So, what I am saying is that commercial motorcyclists have contributed and are still contributing to providing employment for youths.”
The ROMAN boss said going forward, the Association would not relent in its resolve to ensure its members are law-abiding at all times, adding; “It will also interest you to know that we have set up a National task force in each of the states we operate to ensure compliance.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of ROMAN, FCT chapter, Comrade Maharazu Yahaya, said the exercise was in compliance with the strict order mandating every commercial motorcycle association in the FCT to ensure proper regulations for its members or face an outright ban.
He said the inauguration of a new executive would ensure a speedy response to all cases involving its members and also check any excesses in their daily operations.
Also speaking at the occasion, the FCT Commissioner of Police, who was represented by the Nyanya Area Commander, Habila Maikeffi, advised commercial motorcycle riders to always shun truancy by obeying road rules, especially regarding their plying one way to beat traffic gridlocks.
Further admonishing them on the need to always check their mental health and related challenges that are byproducts of banned substances, Maikeffi reiterated the Police readiness to enforce the Police Commissioner’s order on addressing the menace of ‘Okada’ riders across the FCT.
“I would like you all to carry out your daily commercial operations with clean health, not under the influence of hard drugs and such makes you cause pandemonium at every little provocation”, he noted
On his part, the Chairman of Karu Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Dr Bathelomeo Agbo, charged motorcyclists to always respect the law guiding their operations, even as he sought proper understanding among the riders and the leaders to ensure the efficacy of all regulations.
For him, constant engagement by all stakeholders would ensure the efficacy of all regulations with the operators in a position to enjoy the commercial motorcycle business for the benefit of their families as well as the society at large.
