Today is the last day any
commercial motorcycle rider can operate without a valid licence and
crash helmet in Oyo state, according to the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC).
The commission has vowed it will deal decisively with defaulters, including those operating without a registration plate.
A
communique from a safety awareness programmed organised by the
community relations unit of the state government which had in attendance
the Oyo Governor Isiaq Ajimobi insisted that motorcycles being used for
Okada must be road worthy and must have the two side mirrors fixed on
them.
Accordingly,
operators must provide helmets for their passengers, will carry only
one passenger at a time without any loading, and alcohol will no longer
be sold in motor parks.
"Oyo
State Government does not intend to ban okada riders but we are charged
with the responsibility to protect the lives of our citizenry and that
is why we need to partner with law enforcement agencies to enforce the
usage of helmet. They must be cautious on the highway and must begin to
use helmet,” the governor said through a representative.
'Thousands
of helmets were distributed to them last year but we observe that some
of them are not using it and are keeping it at home. They also engage on
overload thereby endangering the lives of their passengers and creating
social problems. All this are causing overstretching of government
facilities in hospitals."
Oyo Sector Commander
of the FRSC, Yussuf Salami, said: "Any Okada rider caught without
helmet is fined N10, 000 but I think if we can increase the fine in
partnership with the Oyo State Government, so many Okada rider will
adhere strictly to the rules and regulation. Many
Okada riders in this state needs attitudinal change and are inpatient.
They are even ungrateful to government because they should have banned
them.
"If
we now charge them N30, 000 for non-usage of safety helmet, I know they
will change. I will even advice the state government to state
conducting psychiatric test on them because most of them behave abnormal
while riding. Even Okada riders unions unit that ought to discipline
their members are only interested in their daily dues. So many deaths
has been recorded in this state from Okada accidents"
He
urged the state government to have a database for all Okada riders in
the state and give them same uniform in order to curb crimes.
Similarly,
the Special Adviser to the Government on Community Relations, Alhaji
Abidemi Siyanbade said a typical Okada rider is not patient, adding that
they ride the Okada as if they are the only people using the road.
He said: "Another appalling habit of Okada riders is harassment of other road users especially anytime there
is an accident involving one of them. Whether they are guilty or not,
they will want to solidarise with their fellow Okada rider involved in
an accident and in the process, harass and threaten other road users"
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