The Niger state government has announced the banning of the operations of commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada in Minna, the state capital.

In a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Danladi Ndayebo, the government noted that adequate arrangements had been made to cushion the effect of the ban.

It also added that the state ministry of transportation had taken full delivery of 1000 units of Mahindra Tricycles in addition to 8 units of 18-seater buses and 12 units of 100 capacity Bus Rapid Transport, BRT, buses that have already been put on the roads to ease transportation problems in the state capital.

Enforcement of the law would commence from January 2, 2014.

Ndayebo dismissed concerns that motorcycle operators would be put out of job as a consequence of the ban, saying that the newly purchased tricycles would be distributed to okada operators through the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria, ACOMORAN.