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Tag: Okada

  • Traffic Offences: FCTA Confiscates 499 Vehicles, Tricycles, Bikes in 1month

    Traffic Offences: FCTA Confiscates 499 Vehicles, Tricycles, Bikes in 1month

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said that it has confiscated at least four hundred and ninety-nine vehicles, tricycles motorcycles within the last one month, for various traffic Offences.

    In breakdown on the various related confiscation showed that there were total number of 233 vehicles, 113 tricycles, and 153 motorcycles, including those used for dispatch riding, which unlawfully operated within the Federal Capital City (FCC), from where they were impounded and kept across five commands of the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS).

    It was gathered that also they were confiscated for various traffic offences was also for other Offences like no roadworthiness, recovered stolen vehicles, illegal car marts, accidents, unpainted taxes to route violations amongst others.

    DRTS Director, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello, who briefed newsmen yesterday, after an assesment tour that took off from the DRTS Headquarters to Mabushi, AYA, Berger, Jabi and Wuye Area Commands respectively, said the confiscation was as a result of its outings within the month under review, specifically between the month of May and first two weeks of this month, aimed at ensuring that there is traffic sanity in Abuja, the FCC in particular.

    Bello noted that owners of the impounded automobiles will be penalized by the FCT Mobile Court, adding that the DRTS does not have the power to penalize the offenders.

    He said, “For most cases, for us to embark on any enforcement or impoundment, we used to have constructive engagement with the stakeholders involved, reminding them of the rules and regulations guilding traffic management in the FCT. We continue to this regularly, to keep the city in check in terms of traffic management.”

    “The fact that the Federal Capital City provides that viable benefit for commercial vehicles (taxis) for the fact that the population is here, but we feel that people should understand and respect simple traffic regulations. ”

    “Agree that FCT is still a work in progress, and there are somehow, transportation infrastructural deficiency, but it is not an excuse to break the law particularly in the FCC, which is so much organized.”

    We will continue to be on top of our game, to ensure we regulate their activities and impound those that are recalcitrant and consistently breaking our laws, Bello emphasized.

  • Reps Step Down Motion To Halt Proposed Ban On Okada

    Reps Step Down Motion To Halt Proposed Ban On Okada

    The House of Representatives has stepped down a motion to call on the Federal Government to halt the proposed ban on motorcycles ().

    A member from Jigawa State, Abubakar Yalleman, had moved the motion on Tuesday during the plenary at the green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He prayed the House to urge the Federal Government to restrict the ban to local governments where banditry and terrorism were rife.

    The lawmaker believes a total ban will negatively affect the well-being and welfare of the common Nigerians if palliative measures are not put in place to ease its effect.

    After making his case, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, who presided over the plenary, however, prevailed upon Yalleman to step it down.

    He said he appreciated the motion but appealed to the lawmakers to cooperate with the executive arm of government in the fight against insecurity.

    On Thursday last week, the National Security Council said it was considering a nationwide ban on motorcycles and mining activities as part of a strategy to curb terrorist activities, checkmate loopholes, and cut off their sources of funding.

    According to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, investigations are ongoing, especially to establish the correlation between mining and motorcycles which the government suspects provide funding for the supply of arms to terrorists.

    He stated that the criminals had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking, adding that the government was not unaware of the economic consequences of the proposed resolutions which he said have become imperative to guarantee the nation’s security.

    Terrorist groups, especially in Nigeria, are increasingly interested in controlling areas of production of gold.

    The opportunistic nature of these activities ties strongly to the fact that gold is often the favoured mineral of the terrorist groups as many of them use it to secure a source of funding for future operations.

  • FG planned ban on Okada, AAN calls for safety net to alleviate deepening poverty on population

    FG planned ban on Okada, AAN calls for safety net to alleviate deepening poverty on population

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    As the Federal Government plans a a nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles otherwise known as Okada and Artisanal mining in the country, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has called on government to consider alternative safety net to buffer the impact of the planned ban on the affected population before taking such action.

    AAN made this call today in a statement it issued on its position on the planned banning of Okada and Artisanal mining in the country.
    AAN stated that the ban on Okada and illegal mining activities by the Federal Government as hinted by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, although will stem the rising insecurity across the country but it will undoubtedly further deepen the national multi-dimensional poverty index if measures are not taken to address the population involved.
    As a way out, the NGO urged the government to encourage investments and job creation to engage those that will lose their livelihoods.
    The statement read, “ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) agrees that placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities may cut the supply of logistics and source of funds for the purchase of arms to the terrorists, but while this is being contemplated in the national interest to combat insecurity, there must be well thought-out alternatives to lessen the effects of the attendant loss of livelihoods on the people that will be affected.”
    The NGO noted that the ban must be implemented in a way that it must be implemented in a way that will not further worsen the country’s dire economic situation.”

    According to the NGO the number of people using okaka represents a significant segment of the population whose condition will be worsened as a result of food inflation, rising unemployment, the rising cost of living among other economic challenges, and other issues that are responsible for why more people are falling into the poverty net.
    AAN also emphasized on the need for government to invest in agriculture value-chain, especially girl child education.
    Prioritize the healthcare of its citizenry and enhance economic opportunities while embracing technology to improve economic productivity and opportunities for the citizens.
    AAN also expressed willingness to join other development partners available to work with the government at all levels to create a sustainable alternative for this population.

  • Lagos State Govt. Bans Operation Of Okada In Six LGAs

    Lagos State Govt. Bans Operation Of Okada In Six LGAs

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday banned commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, from operating in six local government areas of the state.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the ban during a meeting with police chiefs in the state, saying it is “total and indefinite”. The affected local councils are Ikeja, Surulere, Eto-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa, the governor said.

    “After a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six local government areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated,” Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in a statement issued after the meeting.

    “We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six local government and their local council development areas, effective from June 1, 2022.”

    He said the move will be extended to other areas of the state within a short while.

    “This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period, and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do,” he added.

    Sanwo-Olu, who maintained that the recent move is in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, called on the police to enforce the ban without compromise.

    He also advised residents of the state patronising Okada riders on the highways to embrace alternative means of transportation provided by the government. This, he said, becomes important, as motorcycles are an unsafe mode of transportation.

    “We have provided Last-Mile buses in the affected areas; they are working and effective. We also have medium-capacity buses and high-capacity buses working in these areas. Before the end of the year, we are also bringing the rail along these corridors with their terminals. We have provided jetties as well to provide alternatives,” Sanwo-Olu reiterated.

    “We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws.

    “The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement.”

  • Okada man bags 14 years jail term for attempting to Kidnap Ex-Boss

    Okada man bags 14 years jail term for attempting to Kidnap Ex-Boss

    By Gabriel IUdeh,, Kaduna

    A commercial motorcyclist in Zaria, Kaduna state who threatened to kidnap an Igbo businessman has been sentenced to 14 years in jail by magistrate court.

    The convict, Bashir Adamu, 25, a resident of Sadauki Road in Wusasa Zaria was charged for threat to life and attempted kidnapping his former boss.
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    The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Zainab Garba, in her ruling said the sentence was pursuant to section 247 (3) of the Penal Code Law.

    The Magistrate’s Court at Zaria City, Kaduna State, gave no option for fine to the convict.
    The prosecuting officer, Inspector Abdullahi Sarki who said that Bashir Adamu , the commercial motorcyclist, was arraigned on charges bordering on threat to life and attempt to commit kidnapping contrary to section 247 of the Penal Code.

    He explained that on Oct. 12, 2020 at about 20.00hrs, one Kenneth Chinanuife, a businessman of No.11, Park Road Sabon Gari Zaria came to the Federal Intelligence Bureau, Intelligence Response Team Base of Puff Adder at Rigachikun Kaduna.

    “Chinanuife reported that on Oct. 8, 2020 he received a call from a GSM number threatening to kidnap him if he did not provide One Million Naira. That the caller told him that he is a member of a syndicate that kidnapped people at Wusasa, Zaria.
    “Our detectives traced and arrested Adamu in the process of collecting the ransom and N108, 000 was recovered from him and it contradicts section 247 (3) of the Kaduna state Laws 2017.”

    Bashir Adamu accepted the charges and pleaded guilty before the court.
    The prosecutor applied for summary trial under section 367 (3) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA since the defendant had pleaded guilty to the charges. Bashir Adamu did not object to the application but only pleaded for leniency and mercy.
    “Chief Magistrate Garba therefore ruled that since the convict had pleaded for leniency, she should have been lenient since he was a first time offender but her hands were tight as to the punishment provided for the offence.

    “We should allow the law to take effect coupled with the fact the offence was rampant in the society and the punishment would serve as deterrent to others. I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine pursuant to Section 247 (3) of the penal code and you have right of appeal within 30 days,’’ she said.

    Bashir Adamu and 25 others were recently, paraded by the police connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, murder ,cattle rustling and other related crimes.

    Adamu had confessed to journalists that he had worked for Mr. Chinanuife who sells paints and other building materials in the ancient city.

    According to the convict,” the motorcycle is my own but I wanted to buy a new motorcycle and as a mason ,I have not been getting work regularly.”

    On his part, Mr. Chinanuife, expressed satisfaction over the ruling and commended the police for the expertise and professionalism on this case.

    “I wanted to appeal to the magistrate on the sentence because he know Bashir, he is my neighbor at Wusasa, Zaria and I pity him but there is nothing I can do to reduce what the law has stipulated,” he said.