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Hard time awaits traders in Onitsha and Nnewi, the two Anambra State commercial towns, as well as civil servants in Awka, the state capital, following the ban of motorbikes, popularly known as ‘Okada’ and tricycles (keke) from majors roads and streets in the state.

In a statement by the new state commissioner for information, Dr. Uju Nwogu and her counterpart in the transport ministry, Chuma Mbonu, the ban, which affects both private and public motor-bikes, will take effect from June 1, 2015.

Said the statement, “All motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state will, from next week Monday, be barred from plying the Enugu-Onitsha and Onitsha-Owerri expressways. Similarly, it will be illegal for all motorcycles, either private or commercial, to ply the following designated roads in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi: In Awka, the roads are: Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Arthur Eze Avenue and Zik’s Avenue. For Onitsha, the roads are: Onitsha-Owerri expressway, Awka Road, Borromew-Upper Iweka-Bridge Head Road, Old and New Market roads and Oguta Road. In Nnewi, they are: Nnewi- Nnobi road and Nnewi -Oba road.”

The state government said all commuters who must ply these restricted roads have been advised to use tricycles or the taxis and buses provided by state government and other commercial vehicle owners.

It directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance to this directive as any motorcycle or tricycle operator caught violating the directive will have his motorcycle or tricycle impounded and will be retrieved by payment of a fine of N5,000 (five thousand naira) for motorcycles and N10,000 (ten thousand naira) for tricycles for first offenders.