Legalization of ‘Okada’ business to start soon
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has directed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to commence the process for the registration and licensing of motorbikes for commercial use in the country with immediate effect.
He said the legalisation of motorbikes for commercial use would ensure that motorbike riders strictly adhered to road safety regulations to help reduce motorbike-related crashes and deaths.
Mr Nikpe, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Saboba, said legalising the use of motorbikes for commercial purposes, known locally as Okada, would help to reduce indiscipline on the roads.
He gave the directive on his first day at work, which saw him pay a working visit to the DVLA and other agencies under the transport ministry.
Mr Nikpe also urged the DVLA to work more to consolidate the gains that had been made in the past years in terms of service delivery so that the public would get value for money.
He stressed the need for steps to be taken to rid the system of middlemen, known in the local parlance as “goro boys.”
“We want to ensure that we do not have any connecting persons within DVLA; but that we should have technology to improve upon service to the people,” he stressed.
