The National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATCOMORAN), has said that the Federal Government’s proposed ban on motorcycles would render about 80,000 Okada riders jobless in Gombe and Jigawa.
Mr Suleiman Sani, Vice Chairman of the association in Gombe State, said the ban would make its members jobless, and increase unemployment and poverty in the country.
According to him, the ban will create unimaginable hardships for over 66,000 registered members in the state.
“Proscribing commercial motorcycle operators without giving them alternative means of livelihood will create more problems than what we have now.
“They will engage in other activities that might not be beneficial to the society.”
He said those that repair motorcycles and sell spare parts would also be affected, adding that some of the riders hire motorcycles to earn money to fend for their families.
“If the government effects the ban, the riders and their families will not have food to eat.
“For now, there is no sector that can accommodate millions of riders by implications it might worsen the security situation in the country.
“We have no where else to turn to if that happens as government cannot employ everyone.”
In the same vein, Ya’u Muhammad, NATCOMORAN Secretary in Jigawa, disclosed that about 13,000 members of the association would be affected by the proposed motorcycle ban.
He said that thousands of unemployed youths including graduates engaged in commercial motorcycle trade to fend for themselves and their families. He argued that the ban on motorcycle without alternative measures in place would disrupt transportation services, increase unemployment and social vices.
“In Jigawa; we have over 13,000 members, what about the states across the country,” he said, and urged the Federal Government to rescind on its decision.
He said the security challenges bedeviling the country needed collective approach to tackle, and expressed their readiness to partner with the government to address the problem.
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