CP orders Okada, Keke operators to vacate City Centre in 3 days

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Commissioner of Police, in charge of FCT, and Chairman Ministerial Joint Task Force (MJTF), Mr. Bala Ciroma, has declared a three-day grace period for operators of commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists to restrict their operations within the satellite towns and other designated areas in the Territory, or risk swift arrest and prosecution.
The Police commissioner said that this has become necessary, because of the proliferation of the operators otherwise known as Okada and Keke riders within the city center as a means of commercial transportation, despite the standing ban on such activities outside some designated routes in the Territory.
He therefore stressed that the MJTF will after the three days make any defaulter face the full wrath of the law.
Ciroma spoke during the meeting of the Ministerial joint Task force MJTF and the leadership of the National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) and the Amalgameted Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Rders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), on Monday.
The CP told the groups to see beyond the commercial benefits of their business and contribute their quota in making of the capital city of Nigeria worthy of emulation.
He said, as the head of the Taskforce, “I would like us to stick to those areas earlier designated for your operations. This has however become necessary because we are beginning to witness some of your members flaunt the law.”
The Police Commissioner, observed that those of them who have been called to duty must perform that which they are paid for.
Also speaking, the Director, FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Mr. Wadata Bodinga, noted that his office on the call of duty has perfected moves to ensure that the city centers are rid off illegal commercial vehicle operations.
Mr Bodinga however, appealed to the unions to abide by the rules as government has adopted dialogue as the only means of working relationship with the unions insread of cat and dog race.

On his part, Chairman FCT charpter of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, assured the committee of full cooperation, while expressing appreciation to the FCT Minister.
He said the stakeholders have resolved to abide by all policies especially the ones guiding their operations within the nation’s capital city, claiming as those operating are not their members.
He however made an appeal for government to grant it’s association additional routes to cover their operation as there has been an increase in membership.