(VIDEO) CONFUSION AS MPAPE COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLISTS CALL OFF TWO-DAY OLD STRIKE
https://youtu.be/NDk0p6FP2uc
Who tried to impose the purchase of reflective jackets on commercial motorcyclists operating in the Mpape suburb of the Federal Capital Territory?
On Monday, the commercial motorcyclists withdrew their services, grounding commercial activities in the sprawling Mpape suburb as policemen began to arrest operators most of who did not have the reflective jackets.
But by Tuesday afternoon, the motorcyclists did not know who gave the order for them to wear the reflective jackets which were being sold for three thousand five hundred naira for one.
The operators who spoke to SignatureTV said neither their two unions nor officials of the Bwari Area Council which administers Mpape was willing to accept responsibility for the order to wear the reflective jackets.
Muhammed Tashir, one of the motorcycle operators said apart from the confusion over who gave the order, the reflective jackets are open to abuse because they could be purchased by even criminals who could use them to commit crime.
He suggested that the local government should instead compel the commercial motorcyclists to use reflective number plates which will also ensure that the revenue goes to the government.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers in the Mpape area are bemoaning the effect of the motorcyclists strike on their own businesses.
According to Muyiwa Adetola, one of the taxi drivers, commuters from the adjoining communities who bring their goods to the Mpape markets using motorcyclists did not show up in the last 2 days.
The situation created low patronage for taxi businesses in the area.
To resolve the confusion created by the order on reflective jackets, a commercial motorcycle operator, Mohammed Sani has advocated the collapse and overhaul of the two unions operating in the Mpape area. He said that instead of organizing commercial motorcycle operators in the area, the two unions are busy fighting for supremacy and how to make money , a situation that is encouraging indiscipline and sometimes criminal behavoiur.
