Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Thursday ordered the immediate distribution of 592 tricycles to commercial motorcyclists (Okada) in the state.
Aliyu gave the order during an inspection of the tricycles being assembled at the Minna Trade Fair complex.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture is coming as the state government prepares to ban the operation of commercial motorcycle services in Minna and its environ.
The governor directed the transportation ministry to liaise with the motorcyclists’ association on the date of the commencement of the ban.
He also directed the ministry to embark on extensive enlightenment campaign on the agreed date when the ban would become operational.
Aliyu said that the measures were being taken so that the Okada operators and the general public would be carried along in the exercise.
He directed the ministry to out how to reduce the effect of the ban on the operators.
Aliyu said the ban on commercial motorcyclists had come to stay as the state government had taken delivery of 592 tricycles out of the 1,000 it had ordered from India.
“We have already taken delivery of 402 tricycles seven months ago,’ he said.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed , said the ministry would hold consultations with the Okada riders’ association on the distribution of the tricycles.
He said a mutually agreeable date for the commencement of the ban would be adopted.
Mohammed said the ministry had put in place measures to ensure that the tricycles were used only in Minna and environs.
