GOVERNOR Sullivan Iheanacho Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, enacted the law effectively banning the operations of motorcycles otherwise known as Okada within the Enugu metropolis.
While signing the law in the presence of the House Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo, House Leader, Hon. S.K.E. Udo Okoye and other principal officers of Government, Chime noted that the law aims to checkmate the activities of men of the underworld and ultimately protect lives and property of the people.
The law prescribes one year imprisonment without any option of fine for violators.
According to the governor, “the House of Assembly today (yesterday) passed the bill and we’ve enacted the law whose primary goal is the protection of lives and property of our people. This exercise, effectively, bans the use of motorcycles, otherwise known as Okada within the Enugu metropolis.
“As a Government, we made efforts to streamline the operations of the genuine operators but these efforts, unfortunately, had not been fruitful because crime rate rose and most of the crimes were facilitated by the use of motorcycles by other evil-minded persons.
“It got so bad that the law enforcement agents officially requested the ban of motorcycles because of the menace of the men of the underworld who have been using them to perpetrate their crimes. As a responsive and responsible Government, we have enacted this law in the best interest of all of us.”
Governor Chime also enjoined the people to embrace other means of transport available in the city. “In the past few years, Government injected over seven hundred taxis in the metropolis in addition to tens of hundreds by the private sector as well as the Coal City Shuttle and other buses.
“We regret any inconveniences this ban may cause the commuters but it had to be taken in the best interest of all of us. So, we plead with our people to obey the law as we also urge the law enforcement agents to, please, ensure strict enforcement of the law in our overall interest.”
