No going back on ban commercial motorcycle operations in Minna ― Niger govt

Niger State Ministry of Transport has said that the ongoing ban on all commercial motorcycle operators and the dismantling of illegal motor parks in Minna metropolis, the state capital is aimed at safeguarding the lives and properties of the residents.

Commissioner of Transport, Hajiya Ramatu Yar’adua, noted that the operational activities of the commercial motorcycles known as Kabu-Kabu, and the number of illegal motor parks in Minna has been a source of security concern.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Musa Garba, in an interactive session with the newsmen at the weekend, the commissioner explained that the state in recent times had witnessed a high level of insecurity ranging from streets fight by some youths, house burglary, armed robbery, among others.

Yar’adua said the proactive measures taken by the state government to stop the operations has become imperative, has come to stay and the government would arrest and prosecute any defaulters.

She stated further that the government was committed to safeguarding the lives and properties of its people who were residents in the state, adding that it would not fold its arms to see the state capital being overtaken by the illegal activities of some criminal elements.

“As a government, we have a duty to protect the citizens. We can’t fold our hands to allow the bandits to take over the state capital.

“Yes, their activities were not yet in the state capital, but we would not allow them to come down to Minna before we take any measure,” she maintained.

The commissioner opined that, as part of the state government’s efforts to cushion the hardships caused by the ban, arrangements have been concluded to engage the services of a contractor to supply an adequate number of tricycles, otherwise known as Keke NAPEP in the metropolis.

She said the tricycles would be distributed on loan.

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