Photo: Leadership

An Okada rider.

Kano — The Kano State Government on Tuesday ban the activities of commercial motorcyclists in the state from Jan. 24.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who announced the ban in a broadcast in Kano, said the measure became imperative considering the current situation in the state.

The ban is coming in the wake of last Saturday's attack on the convoy of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Ganduje said: "the action became imperative so as to ensure that all commercial activities of motorcyclists in the state were registered in their local government as part of government measures to ensure security in the state".

He said the ban would take effect on all commercial activities of the motorcyclists from Jan. 24, adding that the attack on emir's convoy shook the city of Kano.

Reacting to the ban, the National President Amalgamated Commercial Owners/Riders Association of Nigeria, Malam Muhammad Hassan, however, described the development as "unpleasant and highly devastating".

Hassan said that no fewer than 1.5 million people would be rendered jobless by the government's pronouncement.

He then called on the government to come up with a new measure that could create job opportunities for the people that were rendered jobless by the new policy. (NAN)