KOREDE FOGO
Ogun State may soon join the list of states in the country that have placed ban on the use of motorcycles popularly known as Okada.
It was gathered that the Ogun state government is putting plans in place to ban Okada from being used to ferry smuggled rice across the St
ate especially in border communities.
This ban is coming against the backdrop of constant attack and maiming of Customs officers by dare-devil smugglers. The government, however, observed worrying trend in which criminals have found commercial motorcycles a useful and enabling tool with which to perpetrate heinous crimes, with the motorcycles acting as quick-getaway vehicles.
Speaking to BUSINESSinsiderng yesterday, the ag Controller. Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hussein Ejibunu said the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi while commiserating with the unit on the death of three of his officers killed in cold blood said the government will soon place a ban on use of Okada as means of ferrying smuggled rice.
Ejibunu said, “the secretary to the Ogun State government called me on today (Friday) and told me the state is on the verge of banning use of Okada to ferry rice. This is the present mode of smuggling rice across the State and government is on placing ban on the use,” he said.