President of Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (ROMAN), Alhaji Olusola Razaq has stated that an outright ban of commercial motorcycle (Okada) as a means of transportation, may have serious negative impact on the economy of Nigeria as well as cause increase in unemployment and insecurity.
Razaq stated this in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Abuja Transport and Aviation Correspondents Association (ATACA).
He said if the ban is not reviewed, it may impose serious unemployment implosion across the nation as well as increase insecurity and loss of about N30billion revenue generated from the unions across the 36 states and FCT. He said the ban and crushing of seized motorcycles should not be a solution in an economically disadvantaged society like Nigeria.
The ROMAN president, however, observed that the federal government through the parent ministries should as a matter of urgency start making suitable regulations that will ensure safety of operators than banning the life-saving activities.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the transportation sector have said that the sector is crucial in rescuing Nigeria’s troubled economy, especially if the right measures are adopted.
At the seminar, the former minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, stated that the federal government has embarked on huge transport infrastructure investment across the country to ensure efficiency in the transportation sector.
