23rd June 2026, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Governance And Development, Business And Economy, Security News
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

Last week, the Abia State government, led by Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, initiated a policy decision banning all commercial motorcycle operations in the metropolitan areas of Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia. These are the three main cities in the State.

The decision is basically aimed at addressing the menace of insecurity, particularly the growing phenomenon of kidnappings being carried out by suspected herdsmen and local collaborators.

In a statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, “the policy forms part of the Government`s ongoing efforts to strengthen security, enhance public safety, improve traffic management, and promote a more organized transportation system across the affected urban centres”.

Consequently, all commercial motorcycle operators, otherwise known as “okada riders,” were directed to cease operations from Monday, June 22nd, 2026 within the designated metropolitan areas.

The statement went further to inform the general public that security agencies and other relevant enforcement authorities have been mandated to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

The government called on the affected operators, transporters, community leaders and the general public to cooperate with the enforcement authorities as the measure was taken in the best interest of the people.

The decision has received general commendation from across the social spectrum of the State, with a lot of the people affirming that the ban, if strictly enforced, would go a long way in effectively addressing the issue of insecurity in the State.

However, some concerns are being raised by skeptics, regarding what they termed the suddenness of the measure and the clear-cut areas or neighborhoods covered by the ban.

They are also wondering whether the ban would be fully enforced, considering the penchant of security personnel, including military and police people, to flout such orders.

It has been observed that in many jurisdictions where such bans exist, these security operatives often use their personal motorcycles to engage in commercial operations.

Although the present directive appears to be a new initiative, the truth of the matter is that commercial motorcycle operators had been banned in the urban centres of Abia State since the era of former Governor T.A. Orji. This was at the height of armed robberies, kidnappings and muggings in the State.

The ban was also necessitated by the need to check rising cases of orthopedic accidents associated with the “okada riders”.

What seemed to have happened over time was the gradual return of these commercial cyclists to some of the routes they were prohibited from plying, especially in the neighborhoods that share close proximity to the cities. This raises the issue of strict enforcement.

For the current ban to be sustainable, the government must summon the requisite political will to ensure the strict enforcement of the ban, regardless of who is affected.

There should be no selective enforcement of the order. Those who breach the order, including security personnel, should be made to face the consequences. Nobody should be seen to be above the law because we are dealing with issues that border on existential threats.

In order to ensure an orderly transition, especially for the affected operators who might want to switch over to other lines of business, there may be a need to extend the deadline of the ban. The three-day window given to them may not be sufficient for the affected persons to adjust.

Again, the metropolitan areas mentioned in the Government`s statement must be clearly defined so that some crooked enforcement personnel would not take advantage of any ambiguity to exploit people.

In my view, the ban should cover all the major towns and sub-urban areas in Abia State. The “okada riders” should be restricted to only villages that are not serviced by organized transport systems, including commercial tricycles commonly known as “keke”.

The Government should also take deliberate steps to register commercial motorcyclists as well as “keke drivers” and ensure they wear reflective aprons to clearly indicate that they are officially licensed to operate in designated areas in the State.

This is one practical way of checking criminality as many of the criminals who commit infractions use “okada” as the fastest means of escape.

With the ban, the government would be denying them that luxury.

It must be reiterated that the restrictive order is well thought-out. In the light of rising wave of insecurity in the land, this measure would definitely go a long way in dissuading criminal elements being dislodged by the military in other parts of the country from seeking refuge in Abia.

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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