Tag Archives: Okada

IT firm to launch Apps for “Okada“ riders

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Cleveland International, an IT firm, says it is set to launch two Apps for Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) for security purpose.

Mr Emeka Ejiro, the company’s representative, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the company was working on two Apps, which are for numeration and for security agencies to identify members in case of any criminal act.

“We believe that the sector needs to be properly numerated, we need to tag their assets and the purpose of tagging it is to enable us track them.

“It helps us deploy the Apps that will help in terms of security which will be shared with Police, FRSC and VIO to verify members in case of any offence committed by members.

“And a personal Apps for data capturing biometric, which will have the information of the association and its members, “ he said.

Ejiro told NAN that the informal sector was not organized, saying that with the data capturing biometric it would help the sector in their activities.

He said that after the exercise the association would be able to identify its members at the state and local government levels.

Ban on okada, keke will affect Nigeria’s economy – Amaechi

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that motorcycles and tricycles should not be banned nationwide because doing so would affect the nation’s economy negatively.

Amaechi said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the celebration of the national day of Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria.

The minister advised state governments not to ban commercial cyclists but train them to reduce their recklessness on the road and ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations.

He said, “I don’t think we should ban Okada because if we do, it will affect the economy; they only need to be trained to obey rules and regulations.

“The issue of security, safety and regulation should be dealt with at the state level; state governments should train Okada riders.”

He urged the operators avoid recklessness and obey traffic rules and regulations in order to reduce the rate of accidents.

According to him, commercial cyclists play vital roles in the transportation sector, especially in transporting agricultural produce where roads are not easily accessible.

He said, “We know you play a vital role in the economy: Not all buses, taxis can access our roads for agricultural purposes; a lot of Nigerians depend on you because your services are cheap.

“The economy cannot only grow through white collar jobs; everybody doesn’t need to depend on government and what you have done is to be self-employed to feed yourselves.”

Shehu Babangida, National President of ACOMORAN, said that the day was an annual event designed to celebrate the informal sector in Nigeria.

He said the association’s 12 million membership had massively reduced the rate of unemployment and criminality in the country by engaging vulnerable youths.

The ACOMORAN president thanked the minister and former Zamfara governor, Senator Sani Yerima, as well as other dignitaries, for gracing the occasion.

Lagos Government to crush 4,000 impounded commercial motorcycles

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Over 4,000 impounded commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada will be crushed and recycled, Fatai Owoseni, Lagos commissioner of police, has said.

According to Owoseni, the proposed action is in line with the provisions of the state Traffic Law 2012.

He made this known to journalists on Monday at the Olusosun refuse dump site in Ojota.

Owoseni said the recent clampdown on Okada across the state was necessitated by the government’s resolve to address the security concerns posed by their operations.

He noted that criminals often used Okada to successfully carry out illegal activities.

He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had directed that the police and other security agencies to ensure the the Lagos traffic law is complied with.

“It would not be one off. So far, we have impounded about 500 motorcycles since we started our renewed efforts and we now have a total of about 4,000 bikes ready to be crushed,” he said.

“The law made provisions on how those motorcycles should be handled and the law also made provision on how to handle those that have flouted the law itself.”

Owoseni said officials would also arrest residents who patronise commercial motorcycles on restricted routes.

He said mobile courts would be set up to try the arrested offenders.

 

Source: The Cable

FRSC wants FG to ban commercial motorcycles ‘Okada’ nationwide.

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised the federal government to issue a nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as ‘Okada’.

The recommendation was part of the October Road Traffic Crash Report 2016 submitted by the corps marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, to the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

Oyeyemi was quoted as saying that commercial motorcyclists remained a major cause of fatal road traffic accidents across the country, hence the need for state governments to consider banning them from operating.

“Following the outcome of the analysis, it could be concluded that motorcycle still constitutes serious menace on the nation’s highways.

“Accordingly, improved results could be achieved in the future, if more state governments could consider placing a ban on the use of motorcycle for commercial purposes.

“In view of the above, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation should facilitate and encourage state governments to ban the use of motorcycle for commercial purposes,” Oyeyemi said.

The RTC statistics for October 2016 showed that 230 cases or 18 per cent of a total of 1,259 vehicles involved in accidents within the month were commercial motorcycles.

According to the report, motorcycle accidents ranked third after cars which accounted for 457 cases or 36 per cent, followed by mini-buses with 243 or 19 per cent of the total figure of accidents.

 

Source: The Cable

Passenger allegedly slits Okada rider’s throat over N50 balance

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A 20-year-old suspect, Abdulrahman Muhammed, has been arrested by the police after he allegedly slit the throat of a commercial motorcyclist and fled with his motorcycle because of N50.

The motorcyclist, simply identified as Owechu, is a member of the Articulate Motorcyclists Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Iyana Iyesi branch, in Ado- Odo Ota area of Ogun State.

Owechu, according to the Punch, was taking Muhammed from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline, a neighbouring community to Iyana Iyesi, when the latter reportedly killed him and fled with the motorcycle, leaving him in a pool of blood.

The suspect was arrested in Iju another neighbouring community where he ran to after the incident.

A relative of the deceased, Emmanuel Omajowu, demanded that the suspect face the full weight of the law, saying Owechu’s death had devastated his parents and the entire family.

He said, “Around 10am last Tuesday, he was taking the Hausa man (Muhammed) from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline. The place is a developing area and it is usually deserted. They were on the way when he suddenly brought out a knife and slit Owechu’s throat.The killer escaped with the motorcycle.

“Owechu’s death is a big blow to the family. He was friendly and generous. We want the police to prosecute the case diligently and let justice be done.”

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said Okada riders had stopped Muhammed at Iyana Iyesi, because they saw bloodstains on his clothes.

“He lied to them that he had an accident with a passenger and that he was going to a hospital in Iju to treat himself. That was why they allowed him to go. When the corpse of the motorcyclist was later found, a boy said he saw him with Muhammed.

“A leader of Hausa in the community called Muhammed on the telephone to wait at Iju and the police went there to arrest him.”

However, the suspect told the policein hausa that it was an argument over N50 change that led him to stab Owechu.

He said, “When I reached my destination, I gave him N200 and asked for N50 change. He said my fare was N200 and refused to give me change. As we were exchanging words, he slapped me. He removed the knife from my pocket and we started struggling.

“I managed to collect it and stabbed him. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

The report has it that the death of the motorcyclist caused uproar in the town which took the intervention of the community leaders and a police team, led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Onipanu division, CSP Muyideen Obe, to douse the tension that ensued after Owechu’s killing.

An Okada rider, simply identified as Bolaji, said, “For two days, Hausa traders around the park could not open shops because the other residents were angry. The Hausa leader, baales within communities in Iyesi and the DPO had to come to the park to pacify us.”

A member of AMORAN executive, Gafar Ajayi, said the motorcyclists in the park had been warned against taking passengers to deserted places to avert such incidence.

CSP Muyideen Obe, while confirming the incident, said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is done with.

Police says device found in Abuja not bomb, begins seizure of Okada, Keke.

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The FCT Police Command has said that after its investigation, it has discovered that what was found around Jabi Lake on Thursday was not a bomb.

 

ASP Anjuguri Manzah, Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement said findings by the Command Explosive Ordinance (EOD) unit reveals that the device in question was an ultra sound flow metre used in measuring the volume of water that passes through a pipe.

 

“The device was deployed by a team of engineers handling the Federal Capital Territory reduction of non-revenue water project.

 

“The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Muhammad Mustafa enjoins residents of the Federal Capital Territory to discard the rumours and go about their lawful businesses as the Command has put in place adequate security measures to protect them.”

 

Meanwhile, the Command has warned violators of the ministerial ban on the operation of Commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (keke Napep) in the City centre to desist forthwith.

 

It said All Divisional Police Officers in the Command have been directed to arrest all violators of the directive and prosecute them accordingly.

 

“The Command also wants to remind passengers on ministerial ban on the operation of motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (keke Napep); they are also warned not to encourage the violators of the directive by patronising them.”

Police Brutality: Officer Kills Okada Rider In Benue Over N50

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A police officer on duty along Aliade-Awajir road has shot and killed a motorcyclist, otherwise known as Okada rider.

The victim identified as Friday was killed for interfering while the officer was allegedly arguing with a fellow Okada rider over N50 bribe.

We gathered that the deceased, who came to the scene to maintain peace, got more than he bargained for as the officer reportedly got angry, pulled the trigger and shot him on the forehead. He died on the spot.

The development sparked violence in the area as youths of the community have threatened to set the police station where the officer is attached on fire.

However, Benue State Police PPRO, Moses Yamu said the command was yet to receive the report.

“We have not gotten the report. I will find out and get back to you,” he said.

Lagos Issues 21 Day Ultimatum To Okada Riders

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The Lagos State Government has issued a 21 day ultimatum to okada riders in the state plying all restricted routes in the metropolis. The government met with okada union leaders today at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja on the need for them to vacate the roads.

Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello who chaired the meeting briefed media men that government had decided to give the riders a 21-day ultimatum in order for the union to sensitize their members on the need to comply with the directive before enforcement would begin.

Impeachment: Tension In Ekiti As Okada Riders, Drivers Move To Defend Fayose’s Mandate “With The Last Drop Of Our Blood”

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Tension is building up in Ekiti State as Governor Ayo Fayose asked the people to defend the mandate they gave to him following the impeachment process initiated by the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the state assembly.

Already three groups, the Okada Riders Association, Road Transport Workers Association of Nigeria and National Union of Road Transport Workers have put their members on notice to look out for the APC lawmakers apparently to forestall their impeachment.

The 19 APC lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly had two weeks ago served a notice of impeachment on Mr. Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was sworn into office last October.

The lawmakers were away from the state until recently, following the victory of the APC in the presidential election. During their absence, seven PDP legislators were performing legislative duties which many consider illegal.

Mr. Fayose, who sounded conciliatory after the Supreme Court affirmed his election last week, made a live television broadcast on Sunday asking Ekiti people to defend their mandate from the APC lawmakers, who he claimed were invading the state to impeach him.

He urged drivers and okada riders in particular to move out en masse to defend his mandate, saying: “My mandate is your mandate and you must defend it.”

The governor made the broadcast about twenty minutes after leaving a church service where a clergyman advised him to embrace peace and reconcile with the APC lawmakers by restoring their salaries and other benefits to enable them do their jobs.

Shortly after leaving the church, two statements emerged on the state radio as public announcements that were being broadcast intermittently.

A public announcement by the Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, Niyi Dahunsi “All Okada riders in Ekiti State are enjoined to be on the look-out for strange faces in the state from tomorrow. This is because it has been gathered that APC lawmakers working with Dr Adewale Omirin are planning to truncate the peace of the state by planning to invade the state with armed thugs.

“All Okada riders in the state should be mobilised to the House of Assembly by 6am tomorrow. Governor Fayose’s mandate is the mandate of okada riders. We must defend it with the last drop of our blood.”

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