Motorcycles and tricycle riders in Kaduna, on Wednesday, urged the State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i to lift the suspension placed on them and the restrictions placed on tricycles, in order to enable them to feed their families during the Yuletide period.
Recall that the Kaduna State government a few months ago, placed restrictions and suspensions on both Motorcycles and tricycles plying Kaduna and its environs following the activities of bandits.
Several motorcyclists and tricycles who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna and its environs lamented the hardship they are facing since the State government placed restrictions and suspensions on them.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who announced the temporary ban said the effort was to rid the state of bandits and other criminal activities.
The motorcycle and tricycle riders pleaded with the State government to lift the suspension to enable them to bring food home for their families during the festive period. They said it is better to increase the security strength than to ban the only source of livelihood of poor men.
Former Chairman, Okada Union in the State, Jorokudu Abiola noted that the State government has no human sympathy for the downtrodden, the poor and the have-nots. He said banning Okada, which serves as the only means of livelihood for the unemployed, was like adding more injuries to their pains.
He added that if the government meant well for the residents of the State, it should provide alternative means of survival. He further lamented that although the government suspended the network because of bandits, the suspension only have a serious effect on the common man, rather than bandits.
According to him, the suspension of motorcycles because of bandits has no genuine effect on them, as they continued to terrorise, kidnap and demand ransom as usual.
