The lawmaker representing Nnewi North in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor, has reacted to the recent reports credited to the state government that ban has been placed on commercial motorcycles in Nnewi, insisting that there was no Executive Order nor Legislative enactment to that effect.
Speaking to journalists, Hon. Nonso Okafor said that there is no existing ban on commercial motorcycles in Nnewi, as such, it was only an existing ban that can be reinforced.
Hon. Okafor argued that, though series of security reports that the recent wave of crimes witnessed in Nnewi was perpetuated with commercial motorcycles, which could justify a ban, placing ban on motorcycles was never the solution.
According to him, such development would also warrant banning the use of any form of vehicles since many kidnap cases and attacks were allegedly executed with cars.
The lawmaker, stressed that even though motorcycle operators cannot be absolved from some of the crimes being alleged, putting the blame squarely on them would be counter-productive, as the policy if implemented will affect the source of livelihood of many families, thereby sending thousands of the citizens, especially the youths into the labour market which will even worsen the security situation in the town.
He adds that such ban will affect the Nnewi economy on the basis that the distribution chain in motorcycle industry, ranging from dealers in motorcycles which is the mainstay of Nnewi economy, artisans like mechanics, vulcanizers, and many more will be thrown out of jobs thereby giving rise to vices that will definitely lead to insecurity.
โThe major economic attraction to Nnewi is the sale of motorcycle parts, it will be insensitivity on the part of the government to place a ban on motorcycle transportation in a town that has Nkwo Nnewi which remains the major import and wholesale point for motorcycle spare parts in Nigeriaโ the lawmaker noted.
The former Chairman
National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Anambra State Chapter, noted that such policy will be highly anti-Nnewi when it is clear that Nnewi has the worst deplorable state of roads in Anambra.
According to him, many roads in Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi cannot be accessed if not through motorcycles.
Okafor, who is also the House of Representative candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) for Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, also highlighted that it will be unfair that the present security challenge should put an end to the genuine means of livelihood of people.
He, therefore, urged Nnewi community which has been alarmed by the alleged ban to remain calm as contacts he made to relevant offices of government show that the alleged ban is not the intention of government.
