Okada riders protest alleged govt’s ban at Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi

NnewI—Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly
known as Okada riders, in Nnewi, Anambra State,
yesterday, embarked on protest against alleged plans by
the state government to ban their operations in major
cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi.

The riders who protested usin g the platform of
Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN,
wielded placards with inscriptions as “Governor Obiano
please do not return criminals with ban on Okada
operation” “If you ban Okada Operation in the state
violent criminals will return because some people will be
unemployed” Anyboby who ban Okada operation in the
state is inviting criminals to return in the state”, among
others.

Addressing MTUN members shortly after the protest,
National Vice President of MTUN, Chief John
Onedibe, warned that they would resist any such plan,
arguing that most of their members would be thrown
out of jobs.

Onedibe said he summoned an emergency meeting of the
union executive over the issue in Awka and warned
that any attempt by the state government to ban Okada
would not only bring about labour crisis but also inflict
pains on many families and economy of the state.
He said: “If over 10,000 Okada riders in Anambra
would be pushed out of job, the increase in crime,
would be better imagined than experienced, let alone
hardship the dependants of Okada riders will face.”