Tricycle Operators Hail Okada Ban In Delta

pmnews-placeholder

Tricycle operators in Delta State have commended the state government for introducing the tricycle and hailed the ban on commercial motorcyclists in some major towns in the state.

The tricycle operators acknowledged that the short term benefits were encouraging and lucrative to attract more investment in tricycles business in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the state government on 1 November, phased out commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada in urban towns of Asaba, Warri and Effurun.

The Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan government, prior to the ban provided palliatives by acquiring and distributing about 3,000 tricycles to former okada riders through its association at N150,000 each in two phases.

Some of the operators of the tricycles, who spoke to NAN in Asaba, said they made an average of N4,500 daily as against the less than N2,000 they used to make as okada riders.

Mr Joshua Adebayo, a tricycle operator in Asaba said: “I never knew that tricycle business was as lucrative.’’

“When the state government announced that okada was going to be banned in Asaba, I was among those who kicked against it.

“But today, I must commend the state government for the initiative, tricycle is far better, because we earn more, rest more and ride more comfortably with little or no stress.

Related News

“At least, on a daily basis, I go home with a minimum of N4,000 without much stress, unlike when I was using motorcycle for this business, I could hardly go home with N3,000,’’ Adebayo said.

Mr Kingsley Umukoro, also a tricycle operator, said that apart from being more lucrative, the business is also more convenient and less stressful.

Umukoro said the phasing out of commercial motorcycles had brought sanity and safe transportation system to the state.

According to him, the ban on okada has also reduced the rate of accidents on the highways because okada accidents are becoming daily affairs.

Meanwhile, some commuters, who spoke with NAN, commended the state government for the initiative, but appealed that more tricycles should be provide.

They complained that the tricycles are inadequate compared to the number of people who use them.

They also appealed to the government to ensure that the roads, especially the link roads connecting the various streets, are put in good shape to enable tricycle operators ply the routes.

Load more