The Okada Riders and Tricycles Association of Nigeria (ORTAN), Ekiti chapter has revealed that over 5,000 of its 10,000 members possess either Bachelor’s degree or National Certificate of Education.
The association explained that the high number of graduates among its members in the state accounted for why there was “orderliness and good conduct” within the body.
Speaking through its Deputy Chairman, Olusola Isola and Public Relations Officer, Sikirulahi Akindipe, The association said the body had been able to overcome the challenge of reckless riding, which they said had claimed many lives and maimed many others, through its partnership with the police and other security agencies.
Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Isola said, “We have over 10,000 members in all the 42 branches across the state and, at least, 5,000 of these hold the NCE and Bachelor’s degrees. This shows that there is a high level of unemployment in Nigeria which the government at all levels must address.”
The ORTAN boss appealed to the Federal Government to assist in reducing the cost of motorcycles in Nigeria, saying the least price of a motorcycle in the market now is N320,000, which he described as “too outrageous.”
He said when they noticed that many Ekiti indigenes were being daily maimed by reckless riders, the association quickly set up a task force to effect orderliness among its members.
Isola revealed that some members who were accused of wearing masks at dawn to rob the populace or rape women and girls, had been checked through the efforts of the task force.
“When you are caught riding your commercial motorcycle recklessly, or you dress shabbily, or you cause accident in town, you will be forced to pay a fine of N5,000. This has helped in checking our people.
“In the past, people just joined us without proper accreditation, but before you can ride an okada today, you will be properly accredited. You will be given the state identity card, association’s membership card and the operational logo. All these were put in place to authenticate our members and ensure that nobody hides under okada riding to perpetrate ritual killing, rape, robbery or any other criminal tendency” he added.
Source: Daily Trust
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