Godwin Akomah
Riding Okada(commercial motorcycle transport) is no more a demeaning occupation to eke out a living in Nigeria.
It has not only become a ready source of daily income to the operators, but also attracting some of the educated members of the society - graduates, into the subsector, as riders.
The operators are also playing vital roles in the socioeconomic development of the nation by moving goods and persons from one point to another and even generate revenue for state governments.
The Chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Ridders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Obafemi Owode zone six, Chief Moruffdeen Akomoje, made this known to The Daily Crucible on Boxing Day.
Akomoje added that Okada riding is no longer seen as a demeaning occupation because of its strategic importance in nation building, contributing to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) as well as attracting the enlightened and educated ones to their fold.
According to the ACOMORAN boss in Obafemi Owode, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Community Development Committee(CDC) of Pakuro Area CDC, the body of Okada riders helps the "state government to generate revenue through ticketing."
"Okada ridding is now a dignifying and not demeaning occupation. We operate under the umbrella of ACOMORAN. We have graduates, HND holders and school certificates holders among us.
"The association generates money for the government through ticketing. 'Each okada rider under my association pays levy for each day he comes out to work within the area under my control.
"Out of this amount, the government gets a percentage of it, the Local Government also receives a fraction of it while the association keeps the remainder."
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