Reaction trails proposed nationwide ban on Okada

The federal government is considering banning the use of motorcycles across the country.

The minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists at the end of the National Security Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also said the government was considering banning mining activities across the country.

Mr Malami said the ban was being considered as part of efforts to curtail the activities of terrorists, who often use motorcycles.

The minister noted that less than a third of Nigeria’s 200 million population would be affected by a ban on motorcycles and so it was worth the sacrifice.

In the meantime, a former director of State Security Services (SSS), Mike Ejiofor, has faulted the plan by the federal government to ban the use of motorcycles across the country.

Mr Ejiofor stated this on Thursday while reacting to the federal government’s proposal.

Although he acknowledged that the ban is a mere proposition, Mr Ejiofor argued that such a decision will have negative socio-economic implications for the people.

However, he said if the government must go ahead with the plan, it must provide alternative means of transportation or risk an increase in crime rate across the country.