The different motorcycle (Okada) operators associations in Ogun state have agreed to jointly enforce the directive of the state government on measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state, as a task force has been formed.

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The unions which included, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Articulate Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (AMORAN), and the Riders and Owners of Motorcycles Organization (ROMO) agreed to inaugurate the task force during a meeting held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In a communiqué jointly signed by Kayode Amos Sowunmi JP (ACOMORAN), Aina Nurudeen (AMORAN) and Sotayo Olusola Rasaq (ROMO) it was stated that “as a committed association that abide with law and order in the society, we wish to state that our decision to jointly establish a task force was borne out of the many reports we have received about commercial motorcycle operators who disregard government directives on the number of passengers to convey at a time and the use of nose covers.”

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It also read “The associations have reached out to commercial motorcycle operators in Ogun State using different means on the need to obey government directives in order to slow the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have resolved to take a bold step by embarking on the journey to enforce these directives to support the efforts of the government in its fight against the spread of the pandemic”.

“We are confident that the decision to jointly establish a task force is a step in the right direction as Ogun has recorded a total of 586 positive cases as against a total number of 316 on the 4th of June, which represents an increase of 270 or over 85% in just 14 days, a development which has prompted His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun revisit the directives issued to commercial motorcycle operators to enforce compliance”.

“We give our assurance to the government that we shall continue to play our part as associations with a high degree of consciousness for societal growth and development”.

The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had earlier threatened to ban operations of commercial motorcycle (Okada) in the state, if the operators continue to flout the health measures put in place to curtail the spread of coronavirus.