Kogi unveils plans for free flow of traffic, releases guidelines
…Bans Tricycle, Okada on highways
The Kogi State Ministry of Transportation has unveiled plans for free flow of traffic to reduce incessant accidents within the state. Top on the list of the plans is the announcement of the ban of Tricycle and Okada operators on highways in the state.
Speaking at the Ministry of Transportation stakeholders’ meeting which took place between 5th and 7th January, 2022, the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Baron Joseph Okwoli who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alh. Okeme Jibrail said the meeting became necessary to address issue of incessant accidents and the need for free flow of traffic on major roads within the state.
According to him, this is in tandem with the policy of the Ministry to strategize and map out plans and programmes to ensure smooth operations by road users and safety of commuters.
The commissioner added that after exhaustive deliberations, the meeting came up with the following communiqués aimed at ensuring sanity, safety and security of road users and commuters.
This includes submission of comprehensive list of all tricycle operators with details of their bio data to the Ministry on or before 4th February, 2022 for a data base through the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN); ban of tricycle and okada operators longer from using highways in Kogi State and restriction to township routes with effect from Monday 17th January, 2022.
Others are coding and branding of tricyle in line with the designated area of operation; Guide against overloading of tricyle and okada by operators, barricading the left side of tricyle with iron rod to guide against any accidental fall on the road; ensuring that all necessary valid papers and documents are collected and produced on demand for inspection.
“All long trucks/vehicles operating within the state must observe minimal speed limits in residential areas,” he added.
The commissioner urged all vehicle road users operating within the state to validate their papers. He equally advised them to co-operate with law enforcement Agencies and Officers.
“Mobile Courts have been constituted to prosecute defaulters and offenders,” he noted.
He also advised all vehicle road users to be acquainted and strictly adhere and comply with rules guiding road usage.
