Youths and residents of Gbarain and Ekpetiama communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area have expressed concern over a bill recently passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly banning the use of commercial motorcycles in their areas.
The ban on motorcycle popularly known as Okada, also affects Amassoma community in Southern Ijaw local government area which hosts the Bayelsa State owned Niger Delta University.
The bill, passed on June 19, has sparked concern among residents who depend on commercial motorcycles as their primary means of transportation.
The secretary general of the Gbarain Youth Federation, Comrade Baraseibai Ikpoebinimi, and other residents of the affected communities are lamenting that the ban will cut off their major source of mobility.
They argued that if signed into law and implemented, the ban will affect their daily activities, businesses and livelihoods.
Some commercial motorcycle operators also express concern that the proposed ban will deprive many youths of their source of livelihood, leading to increased unemployment and economic hardship in the affected communities.
The residents of the affected communities as well as motorcycle operators are appealing to the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri to decline assent to the bill considering its negative effects on the people.
They are also calling on the Bayelsa state house of assembly to reconsider the decision by engaging community leaders, transport unions and other stakeholders to find alternative regulation of commercial motorcycle operations in the area.
They believe in proper registration and riders’ identification rather than imposition of a total ban on motorcycle which remains the major source of movement in the areas.
