Akpabio bosts Transport Sector

Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio has set up a committee to work out modalities within the next 14 days for the distribution of 300 '307' Peugeot cars and 200 tricycles to genuine motorcycle operators as part of gradual phasing out of the activities of motorbike operators.

In an emergency meeting with leaders of the Akwa Ibom Professional Commercial Motorcyclist Association (APCOMA), Akpabio expressed disappointment over the infiltration of criminals into the ranks of Okada operators (commercial motorcyclists), using it as medium to abet kidnappings and armed robbery in the state.

Akpabio announced the appointment Udo Johnson, his special assistant on motorcyclists as the Chairman and Mbuotidem Edem to serve as secretary with mandate to submit its report on the distribution modalities within two weeks.

According to the governor, ''Okada riding will be restricted to the metropolis though the riders can still operate in the villages around Uyo,” adding that government can extend the restriction through a gradual process to other local government areas such as Abak, Eket and Ikot Ekpene.

 
The ban on Okada by the state government follows the resolution the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly last week to the effect that the government should as a matter of grave public concern ban Okada riders from operating on the streets of Uyo within seven days.

Before this move, the government last year restricted the operation of Okada to between the hours of 6.30 am to 6.00pm following security reports that most of the criminal activities in the state were perpetuated by the operators.

It would be recalled that when the criminal activities including kidnappings, accidents armed robbery became embarrassing as they were said to be perpetuated by some of the okada operators, Akpabio had given the members of APCOMA a marching other to fetch out the bad eggs in their midst or risk being ban.

 


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