Akwa Ibom State Government
has finally banned the use of
all motorcycles for any
purpose within Uyo capital
city. To show how serious
the new directive which
takes effect from Saturday,
July 2, 2011, is, the state
government has begun the
purchase of motorcycles from
their owners at a flat rate of
N50,000 irrespective of the
age of such bikes.
As at the time of filing this
report, okada riders were
seen rushing to the state
ministry of works premises
along Barracks Road
(Wellington Bassey Way)
Uyo, to hand in their bikes
and collect the N50,000.00.
The new directive was
surprisingly handed down by
the Deputy Governor, Mr
Nisam Ekere, who became
acting governor just last
week when Gov. Godswill
Akpabio proceeded on his
first leave in about four
years.
Ekere, at a meeting with the
leadership of the Akwa Ibom
Professional and Commercial
Motorcyclists Association,
(APCOMA), at Government
House, Uyo, on Tuesday,
explained that government
was forced to take the
decision to check the spate
of armed robbery,
kidnapping and other
heinous crimes perpetrated
by some unscrupulous
persons using motorcycles.
He stressed that the State
Government could not afford
to fold its arms while these
criminals continued to
destroy the lives and
properties of innocent
citizens, adding that in
preparation for the ban,
Governor Godswill Akpabio in
consultation with APCOMA had
since set up a committee to
work out palliative measures
for the motorcyclists and
their passengers.
The acting governor
therefore announced the
immediate release of 200
tricycles for distribution by
the committee to members of
APCOMA for use within the
city and expressed the hope
that those tricycles, in
addition to 10 Marcopolo
buses, 40 Toyota Hiace
buses and 300 saloon cars,
would cushion the effect the
motorcycle ban will have on
commuters.
To assist the affected
motorcyclists get alternative
means of livelihood, the
Acting Governor said the
State Government would
immediately start purchasing
the motorcycles from those
with genuine proofs of
ownership at a flat rate of
N50, 000.00.
Any bike owner who fails to
turn it in for purchase by
government before the
enforcement begins on
Saturday, Ekere said, would
thereafter have to obtain
slips from the office of the
Secretary to the State
Government which would
serve as permit to ride
within a short period to the
venue of the buy-off.
Source: newnigerianpolitics.com/2011/06/29/a’ibom-bans-okada-buys-off-each-bike-at-n50000/

finally bro Goddy and bro Ekere no try at all, who go dash me car now