Security: Abia govt orders registration of private, commercial motorcycles within state

The Abia State government has ordered that all private and commercial motorcycles operating in the state be registered with unique numbers.

It also directed that all motorcycles confiscated after the recent ban in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia metropolises, pay a fine of N50,000 each to the State government, within thirty days from the day the bikes were impounded.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu disclosed this on Tuesday in Umuahia while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided by Governor Alex Otti.

According to the Commissioner, any impounded motorcycle not retrieved by its owner after thirty days would be forfeited to the Abia State government.

He disclosed that all motorcycle operators in approved areas of the state must have unique registration numbers and reflective vests representing the local governments they ply.

Kanu explained that the ban on Okada was not taken to impose economic hardship on poor citizens but applied in the overriding interests of Abia people.

The Commissioner made it clear that there was no going back on the ban imposed on commercial motorcycle activities in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia metropolises.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, raised concerns that tricycle operators who were banned in some South East and South South States are now moving their operations to Abia State, thereby constituting security threats to Abia environment.

Ekeoma said there is a need to protect Abia people from any security threat that may arise from unregulated transport operations.

Also, the Chief Security Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on security matters, Navy Commander Mac Donald Ubah, Rtd, said the state government was being proactive to ensure that some ugly security situation happening in some states of the federation are not experienced in Abia.