By TONY EDIKE
ENUGU—THE move by Enugu State Government to tackle criminal activities and the nuisance caused by commercial motorcycle operators within the capital city commenced yesterday with an executive draft bill sent to the state House of Assembly to ban them from plying the city.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the State Executive Council, SEC, meeting chaired by Governor Sullivan Chime.
He said the proposed bill after due consideration by the House and signed into law will make it an offence for anybody to use motorcycle within Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East local government areas of the state.
Ugwoke who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Chuka Utazi said the law prohibiting the use of motorcycle in those areas was necessary to check the recent security challenges constituted by the operators.
He also explained that the council also considered among others, the health hazards it exposed the users, increasing cases of road accidents involving the operators and reckless abuse of traffic rules.
The Commissioner noted however, that the decision was not taken to punish anybody but to ensure adequate security of lives and property, as well as curb the incessant accidents on the roads, adding that efforts were being made to cushion the effect of the decision.
Violent crimes especially armed robbery and cult related murder by hoodlums operating on motorcycles had been on the increase within the state capital in recent times.
The police and other security agencies in the state appeared to be helpless in tackling the security challenge as the mode of operation of the Okada robbers made it difficult for them.
Vanguard Nigeria