Ban commercial motorcycles, scavengers, not witch hunts – Delta SSG

Announcement

Delta State Secretary to the Government (SSG) Dr Kingsley Emu has said that banning the entry of commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) and scrap collectors, popularly known as ‘iron condemnation’, in restricted areas is not a witch hunt of any ethnic group.

In an interview with journalists after meeting key stakeholders in Emu State, she said Nigerians must abide by the rules and regulations in force in the areas where they live.

In separate remarks at the Sariki of Asaba meeting, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Gero, Special Assistant to the Governor, Alhaji Muktar Usman and Chairman of the Delta State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Alhaji Auwalu Turkur, stated that they would continue to support the policies and programs of the state government.

Emu said the essence of the meeting was to establish a strategy for effective action, implementation and enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles in restricted areas. This also included properly informing and disseminating the paper to key stakeholders so they could stay informed and educate their employees.

According to him, the use of commercial motorcycles is still prohibited in the capital. He added that in most Oshimili South and Oshimili North local government areas, there is also a ban on the use of motorcycles for commercial use.

He stressed that the state government had compiled a list of all streets that (professional motorcyclists) should not use, noting that they had become a source of concern for Delta residents and residents not only in the capital territory but across the entire length and breadth of the state, even as he said, that they were warned to comply.

“Nigerians can live wherever they want as long as they behave well.

“During the meeting, it was explained to us that there are three types of northerners who ply and operate in Delta State and these include those who have lived here and who have always lived here with us, have their children and their businesses here and are known to us .

“Those who were displaced from other states and because of the many crises in the north who came here and the third part are the very aggressive people from Niger Republic who are not even documented and they have no hesitation in doing some terrible things that are attributed to our brothers,” he added.

Regarding scrap collectors, Emu said: “At the session, we also announced some forms of registration process for iron collectors (those who condemn iron), which also remained banned. Their activities are prohibited until registration procedures are regulated.

“We have also established a subcommittee, chaired by the Office of the Attorney General, that will prepare a registration document that will serve as a model for the entire state, and until then there will be no action to condemn iron.

“Therefore, next week, once we receive the document, we will issue further statements on the way forward. We want to institutionalize the enforcement process.

“Be assured that our people will go to sleep with their eyes closed; rest assured that this exercise will work; this is not a witch hunt against any ethnic group, but we will make sure it is enforced; it needs to be enforced,” he said.