Efforts are underway to provide digital identification numbers to checkmate criminality among commercial motorcyclists.
The National President of Riders and Owners of Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (ROMAN), Alhaji Olusola Razaq, who disclosed this at weekend in Abuja during a sensitisation programme organised for their members, said the organisation has engaged an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company that will carry out a digital image capturing of all members nationwide for proper identification.
Olusola explained that the move was to create a database for their members and ensure their proper identification since there are other existing unions across the country.
He admitted that the reason their activities are being despised in the society was due to lack of regulation, disclosing plans to push a bill for an Act in the National Assembly for regulation of commercial motorcyclists.
Olusola said the association would put in place regulations to ensure their members are not used for political thuggery as better welfare will be provided for their members.
He stated that they have set up a National task force team in the states to ensure compliance.
He said: “ We are negotiating with the Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Licence Office (VIO) on the issue of members getting plate numbers, to avoid disobeying traffic rules, road crashes and sudden deaths.”
Speaking, Chairman of ROMAN, FCT chapter, Comrade Maharazu Yahaya, urged their members to comply with the rules and regulations or face outright ban, adding that inauguration of the new executives will ensure quick response to all cases involving their members.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, who was represented by the Nyanya Area Commander, Habila Maikeffi, advised commercial motorcyclists to, as a matter of urgency, start obeying road rules, with special emphasis against plying one-way to beat traffic gridlock.
“I would like you all to carry out your daily commercial operations with clean health, not under the influence of hard drugs and avoid causing problems at every little provocation,” he added.