The Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) has advised the Federal Government to jettison the idea of banning the use of motorcycles nationwide as it would be counter-productive.

The Association said the outright ban may throw over 40 million Nigerians, who make a living through motorcycles, into the saturated labour market.

National President of ACOMORAN, Alhaji Samsudeen Adebayo Apelogun, gave the warning on Monday, at a press briefing in Abuja, where he noted that their membership base stands at 12 million nationwide, with 6000 adequately registered.

Apelogun said, “Commuters see motorcycles as a relief to their transportation problems, while motorcycle riders see their adventure as a source of livelihood. Without a doubt, the use of motorcycles has enhanced mobility for the middle income earners, which by extension has contributed to an increase in production through an increase in man hours.

“Let me put it on record that from experience, 95 percent of those you see riding motorcycles are doing it because they don’t have better options and they don’t want to take to crime.

“If ten million of these 40million people they plan to render jobless take to crime, can the government contain them? If you attribute the movement of terrorists to motorcycles, don’t criminals operate with vehicles? When terrorists regrettably attacked Kuje prison, was it the motorcycle riders that caused the failure of intelligence gathering?”