Tricycles and Motorcycles riders in Kaduna on Wednesday urged Governor Nasir El-Rufai to lift the suspension placed on Motorcycles and the restrictions placed on tricycles to enable them feed their families during the festive period
Several motorcyclists and tricycles who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna and its environs on Wednesday lamented the hardship they face since the state government placed restrictions and suspensions on tricycles and motorcycles
Recall that the Kaduna State government a few months ago, placed restrictions and suspensions on both Motorcycles and tricycles plying Kaduna and its environs following the activities of bandits.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan who announced the temporary ban said the effort was to rid the state of bandits and other criminal activities.
According to Mallam Mohammed Garba, he said, he has been using the Motorcycle for several years, since he was sacked from work
” I have been using this motorcycle for years to feed my family. Already, two of my children are graduates. It’s this Okada business that helped me to train my children.”
He said, since the ban, he could not afford to feed his family any longer, and no family members has come to their aid.
Also, Jukiius Akoiti who said, he has been idle since the suspension of Motorcycles in the state, explained that his wife and four children have resorted to begging before they eat.
” I have no other source of business than this Okada work. Since the ban, I told my family there is no way to feed them any longer. They beg friends, relations and caregivers before we eat.
He pleaded with the state government to lift the suspension to enable them bring food home for their families during the festive period.
” Everybody needs money this period. Those that have been helping us, need money, and I don’t think they will help us this period because they too have families.
He said it is better to increase the security strength than to ban the only source of livelihood of poor men.
Former Chairman, Okada Union in the state, Jorokudu Abiola noted that the state government has no human sympathy for the downtrodden, the poor and the have nots.
He said banning Okada, which serves as the only means of livelihood for the unemployed was like adding more injuries to their pains.
” Majority of those riding motorcycles and tricycles are those sacked from either government jobs, or private job, and were not paid their benefits.
” In most cases, their friends, brothers or relatives struggled to buy the motorcycles for them to use it feeding their family. But unfortunately, the state government prevented them from using it, on the guise of insecurity’
He said, if the government meant well for the residents of the state, it should provide alternative means of survival.
He further said that the government suspended the network because of bandits, but the suspension only have a serious effect on the common man, rather than bandits.
According to him, the suspension of Motorcycles because of bandits has no genuine effect on them, as they continued to terrorise, kidnap and demand ransom as usual.
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