Bauchi------------Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed Wednesday, flagged off the distribution of 1,000 tricycles to commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, in the state.
Mohammed had earlier in March, banned the operation of commercial motorcycles in the state.
Speaking on the occasion where 345 units of the tricycles, tagged Kauran Economic Empowerment, KEEP, in Bauchi, Mohammed said it was part of his administration’s efforts at engaging okada riders and keeping them away from crime by providing another means of transportation for the people affected by the ban on commercial motorcycles in the state.
According to him, “We are set to distribute 1,000 tricycles to reduce the difficulties of transportation in our urban and semi-urban centres and create jobs for people, especially those earlier disengaged in the commercial motorcycle business."
Mohammed further stressed that while commercial motorcycles would be banned temporarily in some parts of the state, the ban would be permanent within the metropolis, adding that the beneficiaries would be required to be depositing token to the Yankari Microfinance Bank for two years as revolving loan.
The governor urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the tricycles and drive safely.
Earlier in his speech, the state Commissioner for Cooperative, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Alhaji Usman Sale, had said that arrangement had been concluded between the state government and the bank to supply the remaining 655 tricycles.
He said that the governor had weaved the initial deposit by the beneficiaries before securing the tricycles, adding that the beneficiaries would pay back within two years through the revolving loan scheme.
Sale urged the beneficiaries to reduce charges to the general public.
Meanwhile, the state Chairman of Keke Napep Riders’ Association, Mallam Bala Dadau, has commended Governor Mohammed for providing sources of income to his members and pledged to monitor both payment and activities of the beneficiaries to enable the revolving loan succeed in the state.
