The withdrawal of commercial motorcycles from roads in Benin
metropolis, southsouth Nigeria, Monday began to cause hardship as
thousands of commuters were stranded on the roads.
Most of the
roads were filled with students, workers, market women and other
commuters waiting to catch buses or taxi cabs to their various
destinations.
Commuter buses had a field day transporting
commuters to their various destinations, many of who could have
otherwise taken a ride on Okada, the banned commercial motorcycles.
Drivers
of the buses however took advantage of the ban on Okada to hike their
fares. Commuters had to pay between N50 and N60 for a trip from Uselu
market to Ring Road, as against the N30 or N40, while a trip from Ugbowo
to Ring Road now costs N100 as against N70 previously charged.
All
major roads and streets of the city, including Ring Road which was
notorious for indiscriminate parking of motorcycles and reckless
manoeuvring between vehicles, were free and devoid of heavy traffic jam
that characterised those areas before now.
Activities of operators
of tricycles otherwise known as Keke NAPEP are also restricted to
interior streets of the town, as they were barred from operating on
major roads, especially around the city centre (Ring Road), Mission
Road, New Benin Market, Sakponba Road and other major roads.
Governor
Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State had last week announced a total ban on
commercial and private use of motorcycles and a partial ban of Keke
NAPEP in Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas making up
the Benin metropolis, citing security reasons for the ban.
No motorcycle and Keke NAPEP were sighted on all the roads monitored Monday by NE from as early as 7 am, except along Okhoro Road where a soldier in
uniform was seen riding a motorcycle from the Okhoro police station end
of the road to the Lagos Road side. He however zoomed off before his
photograph could be taken.
A commuter, a banker who simply identified himself as Sandra, who spoke to newsmen , said she had to leave home as early as 6.30 am as against 7 am to beat the delay occasioned by anticipated traffic jam.
She
said she would always “prefer to ‘fly’ on bikes to my various
destinations. It helps to beat traffic jams and it’s more convenient for
me. If I have my way, I will reverse the ban. See now, I had to leave
home 30 minutes earlier than my regular time of departure.”
Thousands of other commuters who could not wait for buses resorted to trekking to their various destinations.
Osas who operated Keke NAPEP along Medical Store Road till Sunday night, lamented the restriction on their activities.
“See
me now, I used to drive Keke here on Medical Road, but I have to drop
it at home and walk. How long this will go on?” he said.
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The ban may seem hard but the long term benefit in security control will make up for the inconvenience.
ReplyDeleteThe criminality involving Okada Riders has become too much. The number of accident also increased sharply and the hospital casualties are the proof of the bad taste.
There are alternatives that has been abandoned for sometime.
Which day will they implement a law bounding the use of Rolls Royce in this poverty stricken country. Or stop Politician from buying private jet whether tokumbo or cha-cha with our money so that u don’t corrupt the mind of the younger generation with the get rich at all cost syndrome? It’s only Bike, Bus and Keke mawa or Napep that u ban. Things that affects the poor majority. Pls make laws that will enrich and empower the ppl. This is surely a selfish law. Maybe one big man or his folks was robbed with mawa and u doesn’t consider the effect on the majority. Since kidnapping is also done with cars and Uniforms ban the use of Uniforms and cars make everybdy dey treck now? Comrade, you are beginning to disappoint me oooo. No b so u talk wen u start oooooo. u don't throw away bath water and baby as wellooooo. check yaself b4 u reck thyself ooo
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