Commentary: The Perceived Benefits Of Okada Restricting

^{WRITTEN BY HON TIMOTHY IFEDIORANMA}
A glean look, at least by rational thinkers, at our roads, especially in Awka and Onitsha metropolis shows a remarkable difference between now and few days ago when motorcycle operators,

commonly called Okada were everywhere. No doubt, sanity has been restored on the roads, while rowdiness has been restricted.
The roads in Awka and Onitsha are now devoid of gridlocks and madness associated with congestion and crowdedness in major junctions in those major cities. In fact, for over one week now, statistics show drastic reduction in accidents on the roads in Awka and Onitsha, bearing in mind that those Okada operators had no genuine driver’s licence, meaning they were not properly trained on the rudiments and modus operandi on the roads.
Study also shows that emergency units and accident wards in our hospitals in Awka and Onitsha are becoming scanty. This is because such study reveals that, hitherto, Okada-prone accidents accounted for eight hundred scenes daily on the roads in Awka and Onitsha metropolis. These accidents, no doubt, resulted to the death, hospitalisation, maiming and permanent disfiguring of millions of people. To God be the glory that these misfortunes have been drastically curtailed by the Anambra state government through the restriction of Okada movement in Awka and Onitsha metropolis.
In addition, robbery through Okada has gone into extinction in those areas where their operations have been restricted. It is an obvious fact that hardened criminals, more often than not, used Okada to perpetrate their nefarious activities and make quick escapes. Many commercial Okada operators were also saucy, lawless and reckless, thus getting involved in avoidable accidents.
The Anambra State Government had for long been faced with the dilemma of strict security imperatives and the social sentiments of governance. Security reports had consistently identified the easy get–away facility the motorcycle offers to criminals as a hurdle in crime fighting. The motorized bike, not only meandered through narrow and difficult terrain that a four wheel vehicle would not manage, the detection of any specific description in the flow of traffic is a particularly tasking job.
It could easily be stripped of some parts and refitted in a new configuration that leads astray investigating eyes. Given its comparative cheap cost, a serious minded gang could afford to ditch the instruments after an operation. All it took for a fleeing criminal to melt into the society was a serviceable machine, sheer guts and some luck. But thank that all those are over now, at least, in Awka and Onitsha for now.
No doubt, every new policy must affect some people, either positively or negatively. Equally, anything that has advantage must surely come with disadvantage. This is common everywhere. However, bearing that in mind, Governor Willie Obiano has, once again, demonstrated his responsiveness and humaneness to his people; especially those that the restrictions order have affected their daily economic activities and lives.
The state government set aside a whopping seven hundred and sixty-five million naira for the procurement of shuttle buses for the Okada operators that were affected by the restriction. Potential beneficiaries of the funds are free to approach the Anambra State Business Agency, ASBA, to obtain soft loans for the shuttle buses. The process is already in progress.  
This is undoubtedly a positive development and clear evidence of the people-oriented disposition of the government. It is another proof that it is a listening administration that gives ear to the yearnings and aspirations of the masses. Before the decision to ban Okada in Awka and Onitsha metropolis by the State Executive Council, it had weighed the pros and cons and arrived at the conclusion in the overall interest of Ndi Anambra. This is therefore calling on other operators not affected by the restriction, such as shuttle and tricycle, popularly known as Keke operators, to buckle up and fill the gap created by the non availability of Okada in some areas.  Leaders of these groups should ensure that they are ubiquitous in Awka and Onitsha. They should feel free to cover up in all those areas Okada used to operate to eliminate the sufferings of the people. There should be no colonization of routes by shuttle and keke operators. Above all, this restriction should not be an opportunity to hike up prices. Government should watch out against these shylock attitudes.