Motorcycle Ban: Kaduna Residents Speak On Implications

Kaduna State residents have voiced their worry over the proposal by the federal government to ban motorcycles in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, had told the State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Tuesday that the government was considering banning motorcycles in a bid to tackle crime.

Some residents in Kaduna who spoke on the issue said that banning motorcycles would lead to many youths venturing into crime.

Alhaji Musa Yakodo, the Chairman of the Kaduna Motorcycles Riders Association, stated that 70 per cent of unemployed youths are motorcycle riders, adding that they are into it to survive.

"They feed, marry with the little saving from riding motorcycles. Some of them feed their parents, pay hospital bills, pay school fees for their younger ones", he stated.

The Secretary of the Association, Mose Musa Yaro, said that he believes the federal government is toying with the lives of the unemployed youths in the country.

"Unemployed graduates ride motorcycles to feed themselves, clothe themselves", Yaro quipped.

Speaking further, he suggested that the government provide a means of livelihood first before banning motorcycles.

Additionally, Samuel Oyifie, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, stated: "With this, (pointing at his motorcycle), I started a degree program in ABU.

"I sponsored myself with the bike, and now that I am yet to get work, I use it to feed myself. If the ban comes into full force, what next? It means I have to remain idle.”

He added that the proposed ban cannot stop bandits from attacking citizens of the nation.