The Enugu State government has announced that it will soon start sanctioning motorcycle riders found within the capital metropolis.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Chief Ogbonna Idike, who disclosed this on Sunday, said that the law banning motorcycle riding within the metropolis is still in force.
Idike vowed that the ministry will take decisive action against violators, as enshrined in the law banning motorcycle riding with the State capital.
The government, on July 3, signed a law banning motorcycle riding in the three council areas that make up Enugu metropolis. They are Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East.
The ban is aimed at stemming the security challenge posed by motorcycle operators within the State capital.
The ban is also to check the growing build-up of traffic on most roads in the metropolis due to vehicular accidents caused by reckless and dangerous riding of motorcycles.
Idike said the ministry has been monitoring the trend of sighting one or two motorcycles on the road in the metropolis, adding that it will soon put a stop to it.
“We have observed the trend of spotting one or two motorcycles on the roads recently.
“The ministry conducted investigations and found out that it was usually the personnel of military and para-military agencies who recently flouted this age-long law banning of motorcycles within the metropolis.
“The ministry has officially written to the various commands and formations of the military and para-military outfits within the state on the need for them to caution their personnel.
“However, very soon we will start arresting such riders and impounding their motorcycles indefinitely, as stipulated by the law,” he said.
The law prescribes one year imprisonment, without option of fine, for violators.