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Tuesday 3rd, February, 2009

MOTORCYCLISTS IN NIGER STATE TO BUY HELMETS FOR ONLY 15% OF COST

Motorcyclists in Niger State are to buy crash helmets at only 15% of the market price of the product.

This was disclosed by the Chief Servant and Executive Governor of the State, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu while flagging-off the enforcement of the use of safety crash helmets.

Governor Aliyu stressed the usefulness of crash helmets in saving lives and added that the government had further subsidized the price of the helmet from N1,200 to N1,100 and the reflective jacket will be sold at N700 instead of N800. He said while safety crash helmets are sold at N7,000 in some other states, Niger State Government made the subsidy in view of the immense importance attached to lives and safety of commercial motorcyclists (Kabu Kabu) and their passengers.

He added that the ban on commercial motorcyclists operating after 7.00pm was instituted as a result of increase in the level of crime in the state capital, and that the restriction will be gradually reduced based on the level of criminal activities. He then directed that the restriction should now be between the hours of 8.00p.m and 6.00 am instead of the former 7.00pm to 6.00am.

Dr. Aliyu, however, called on all Nigerlites to be security conscious and report any breach of law and order, stressing that it is a collective responsibility of all Nigerlites to ensure peace and security in the State.

He also said that the enforcement of the law on the use of crash helmets by motor cycllists was delayed in order to ensure that adequate arrangement was made by the government, warning that, henceforth, security agents, including the Vehicle Inspection Officers (V.I.Os) should arrest anyone found violating the law.

The Executive Governor then inaugurated a twelve-man committee known as Niger State Committee on Road Safety while similar committees will be inaugurated at local government levels so as to ensure complete enforcement of the law on the use of safety crash helmet and respect for other traffic rules and regulations in the State.

In his speech, the State Commissioner of Tourism and Culture, who oversees the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructural Development, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko disclosed that about 3,000 units of the crash helmets were made available for the flag-off exercise and that by the end of this month, 50,000 units of the product will be made available throughout the state.

He said the Ministry will receive the crash helmets for onward delivery to the local governments who will supervise the sale to private motorcyclists, while the commercial operators will receive the units through the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), in their respective local government areas so as to avoid sabotage. He added that payment for the crash helmets will be made through designated banks.

 Alhaji Nasko further explained that commercial operators will be expected to obtain two crash helmets and a reflective jacket. He said that a blue crash helmet and a yellow reflective jacket will be for the rider and a silver crash helmet is to be used by the passenger, adding that a Task Force on Public Enlightenment Campaign and Enforcement has been constituted and will commence operation by the end of this month.

Goodwill messages were delivered by officials of FRSC, VIO, ACOMORAN and the State Fire Service.


Bala Ibrahim Abdulkadir,

Director General