Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has ordered a total ban on the activities of all commercial motorcycles popularly called okada within the Calabar Metropolis.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, who made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, said that the ban followed due consultations with security chiefs in the state.
He continued that those willing to use their cycles to earn a decent living are restricted only to remote areas away from the city centre.
The government warned that anyone caught violating the directive will have the motorcycle impounded and the offender prosecuted.
The statement reads in part, “The Governor, Senator Bassey Out, after due consultation with key security chiefs in the state has directed a total ban on the activities of all commercial motorcycles within the Calabar Metropolis.
“Those willing to use their motorcycles to earn a decent living are restricted only to remote areas away from the city centre.”
The government also issued a warning against the destruction of public property such as streetlights, lampposts, and traffic lights, advising thieves to stop immediately in order to avoid facing the full force of the law.