INSECURITY: FG may ban Okada nationwide

To curb insecurity in the country, the Federal Government said Thursday it might ban the use of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, nationwide.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, gave the indication while briefing State House reporters after a meeting of National Security Council (NSC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Malami said investigation revealed that Okada were used for mining activities across the country and the ban could cut off sources of funds for terrorists and bandits.

The minister, flanked by his Interior and Police Affairs counterparts, Rauf Aregbesola and Mohammed Dingyadi, said the meeting focused on the logistics used by the terrorists to stop their activities.

He said the Federal Government needed to act because terrorists had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking.

READ: Sanwo-Olu announces total ban on Okada in six Lagos LGAs

Malami said the motorcycles were used by the bandits for movement, while mining provides them the money to fund their arms supply.

On whether the government would consider the implications of the ban of motorcycles and mining activities on ordinary Nigerians and the economy, the minister said the Federal Government would place national and public interest above individual interest.

Speaking, Aregbesola said substantial efforts went into gathering intelligence before the recent attack on Kuje Correctional Center but regretted that there was the absence of will to act on it.

The minister, who said a preliminary report of investigation on the attack had been submitted to the President, assured that detailed report would be made available at the end of the probe.

He said those found to have abandoned their responsibilities would be punished.