Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has banned motorcycles popularly known as okada and tricyles best known as Keke Napep from plying the major highways in the state effective from Monday, June 1, 2015.
This development was communicated via a statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Uju Nwogu and the Commissioner for Transport, Chuma Mbonu, in Awka, the state capital.
The state government explained that the restriction affects all private and commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators.
Starting from the stipulated date, it will be illegal for tricycles to ply the expressway both in Awka and Onitsha.
In Awka, they will not ply Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Arthur Eze Avenue and Ziks Avenue, while in Onitsha, they will not ply Onitsha-Owerri expressway, Awka Road, Borromeo-Upper Iweka-Bridge Head road, Old and New Market roads and Oguta Road, Daily Independent reports.
In Nnewi, they will not be allowed to ply: Nnewi- Nnobi road and Nnewi – Oba road. These are the busiest roads in the state.
The government advised that all commuters who must ply the restricted roads are to use tricycles or the taxis and buses provided by the state government and other commercial vehicle owners.
It was further learnt that the government has directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance to the directive, adding that defaulters would have their vehicles confiscated and made to pay N5,000 and N10,000, respectively to serve as a deterrence.
Part of the statement said, “Any motorcycle or tricycle operator caught violating this directive will have his motorcycle or tricycle impounded, retrievable by the payment of a fine of five thousand naira for motorcycles and ten thousand naira for tricycles for first offenders.
“Subsequent arrest for a second violation of this directive will attract outright confiscation of the motorcycle or tricycle by the state government.”
