Kaduna — The proposed ban of commercial motorcycles otherwise known as achaba riders in Kaduna by the state government may not see the light of the day, Daily Trust has gathered.

The Kaduna State government had at the end of one of its weekly executive council meeting in January, announced its intention to ban commercial motorcycle operations in the state.

To give legal backing to the ban, the state government said it would present a bill to the state House of Assembly.

But speaking to Daily Trust, a member representing Kawo constituency, Mallam Mohammad Ali, said banning the operation of achaba operation without providing alternatives to the operators will negatively affect the security situation in the state.

Ali, who is a member of the Congress for the Progressive Change (CPC), said commercial motorcyclists do not constitute any threat to security in the state.

"We will not support the ban and I'm assuring you that the state Assembly will not pass the bill. We, the 12 CPC members at the Assembly will not be part of it because it is not justifiable.

"Achaba business is thriving because of the failure of the government to provide jobs or enabling environment for small businesses to thrive.

"Successive government bought motorcycles for the masses in order to garner political gains. It is this same spirit that has killed the aspiration of many young persons to go to school. Not that achaba business is good, but it is the only alternative for the teeming unemployed youths. We have to look critically at the repercussion the ban will have on the society," he added.