- The government said the move was part of its efforts to reduce crime rates in the state.
- He said anyone who violates the ban will be arrested, his motorcycle will be seized and destroyed and he will be made to face a mobile court.
The Delta State government has imposed a ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada in some parts of the State.
The government said the move was part of its efforts to reduce crime rates in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, announced the development on Thursday while briefing newsmen after the weekly state executive meeting in Asaba.
He listed the areas that will be affected by the ban as Asaba, the state capital, Oshimili South and North, Sapele, Ika, and Uvwie local government areas.
Emu said the objective of the ban was to address security challenges in the state.
Emu, who noted that the law has been in existence since 2012 but has not been implemented, said: “It is to save lives and property. People have been raped. They vandalise transformers and cables and make residents restless.”
He said anyone who violates the ban will be arrested, his motorcycle will be seized and destroyed and he will be made to face a mobile court.
He explained that the move was not to victimise other tribes or encourage division, adding that violators will be ruthlessly dealt with.
The ban, according to him, was deliberately extended to cover other areas and does not affect transport unions.
“There are security men on ground to effect violation. Even Oshimili South and North local government areas have come out with their by-laws to ban scrap metal scavengers,” Dr Emu said