The high number of members of Okada Riders Tricycles’ Association of Nigeria (ORTAN), Ekiti chapter, possessing National Certificate of Education and Bachelor Degrees is attributed to unemployment in the country.
The Association’s State Deputy Chairman, Olusola Isola Isola said, “We have over 10,000 members in all the 42 branches across the state and 5,000 of these population hold at least NCE, with many of them parading Bachelor degrees. This shows that there is high level of unemployment in Nigeria which the government at all levels must address.”
Speaking to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Isola said the high number of graduates among commercial motorcyclists in the state, however, has accounted for orderliness and good conduct within the body.
According to him, the body has been able to overcome the challenge of reckless riding, leading to killing and maiming of the citizens through their partnership with the police and other security agencies.
The ORTAN boss appealed to federal government to reduce the cost of machine in Nigeria, saying the least in the market now sold for N320,000, which he described as too outrageous.
Isola revealed that members, who were alleged of masking at dawn to rob the populace or rape them, have been banned through the efforts of the task Force.
“When you are caught riding recklessly or dressed shabbily or cause accident in town, you will be forced to pay a fine of N5,000 and this had helped in checking our people.
“In the past, people just joined us without proper accreditation but before you can ride okada today, you will be properly accredited. You will get the State identity card, association’s membership card and get the operational logo.
“All these were put in place to authenticate our members and ensure that nobody hides under Okada riding to perpetrate ritual killing, rape, robbery or any other criminal tendency”, he added.
