The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped down a motion to urge the Federal Government to drop the proposed ban on motorcycles otherwise known as ‘okada’.
Abubakar Yalleman, a Rep member from Jigawa State, moved the motion during the plenary of the lawmakers in Abuja, praying the House to ask the Federal Government to restrict the ban to local governments where banditry and terrorism were rife.
According to Yalleman, a total ban will negatively affect the well-being and welfare of the common Nigerians if palliative measures are not put in place to ease its effect.
Responding, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, who presided over the plenary, prevailed upon Yalleman to step the motion down.
Saying that he appreciated the motion, he urged the lawmakers to cooperate with the executive arm of government in the fight against insecurity.
The move to ban motorcycles in the country has been receiving fierce opposition from groups and individuals who believe that it would have adverse effects on motorcycle operators in Nigeria whose source of livelihood is from the trade.
Recall that the National Security Council had last hinted that the Federal Government was considering a nationwide ban on motorcycles and mining activities as part of a strategy to curb terrorist activities, checkmate loopholes, and cut off their sources of funding.