Nation
Unlicensed Motorcycles Largely Responsible For Road …Crashes In N’East-Stakeholders
Stakeholders in the transport sector have identified activities of unlicensed motorcycle operators as one of the major causes of road traffic crashes in the North East.
The stakeholders made the observation while responding to a survey by The Tide source on the menace of unlicensed motorcycles operating in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe States.
To address the menace, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Gombe State, has warned motorcyclists to desist from illegal use of plate numbers.
FRSC’s Sector Commander, Mr Ishaku Ibrahim, said the measure was imperative to check spate of road carnages caused by unregistered motorcycles.
He said that the Corps recorded increase in the number of road accidents linked to motorcyclists plying highway, inter and intra-city roads in the state.
He said the Corps discovered that many motorcyclists had been duplicating registered plate numbers on unlicensed motorcycles in the state.
Ibrahim said the Corps in collaboration with the state government had embarked on enforcement with registration and licensing by motorcyclists.
“It is wrong, illegal, an offence and defaulters would be made to do the right thing for the general safety of the motoring public in Gombe State.
“Efforts are being intensified to ensure that unlicensed motorcycles keep off Nigerian roads for the general good of everyone.” he said.
According to him, licensing and registration of motorcycles help to equip motorcyclists with some level of knowledge to promote safety on the road.
He urged motorcycle riders to register to get their licenses to protect lives and property of citizens, saying that “registration is very easy.”
However, the FRSC in Bauchi, said the Corps was not responsible for motorcycles’ registration, a trend which led to gross violation of traffic rules by commercial motorcyclists.
The Sector Commander, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, said that registration and licensing of motorcycles were under the purview of the state government.
“Registration is solely the responsibility of the state government as a means of tax collection on vehicles.
“Every vehicle must be properly registered in accordance with the National Road Traffic Regulation.
“This gave birth to the State Traffic Agencies while the FRSC’s responsibility is enforcement,” he said.
He said that production of number plates was also the responsibility of the Corps, adding that it adopted proactive measures to ease registration processes.
In Yobe, the FRSC also warned against operating unlicensed motorcycles and tricycles across the state.
Deputy Corps Commander, Mr UB Amaechi, said it was illegal to use unlicenced vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles in the state.
He said the Corps was conducting routine patrols, impound and book offenders for appropriate punishment.
He advised motorcyclists to obtain licences for their bikes to avoid facing wrath of the law.
To promote safety on the road, some residents of Dutse in Jigawa State have urged the FRSC and other relevant government agencies to enforce compliance with vehicle and motorcycle registration.
Adamu Muhammad, a resident, said that most of the commercial motorcyclists were not qualified to ply the road.
He said the measure was imperative to promote road safety and reduce carnages.
Another resident, Danjuma Atiku, blamed unlicenced motorcycles for reckless driving and violations of traffic rules which resulted to road crashes in the state.
For FRSC’s Sector Commander in Borno State, Sunusi Ibrahim, awareness creation activities were critical to mobilise riders to obtain licences for their motorcycles.
He said that such campaign through stakeholders’ engagement would encourage use of registered motorcycles and promote safety on the road especially in southern part of the state.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt recently hosted a- 4 Day programme in conjunction with the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference ( UNOC:3) to mark the World Environment Day, 2025.
The Programme which was supported by the Embassy of French in Nigeria was focused on ocean protection and held from 9 to 13 June, 2025 at the premises of the Alliance Franchise.
The Tide News reports that the week long event was inspired by the Educational booklet “Understand Ocean And Act” created by the French Development Agency (AFD),was free and open for all.
The exhibition adapts complex environmental challenges into engaging educational contents for learners of all ages. It also placed special focus on French Language Learners at the beginner level( A1-A2) and school students.
According to the Director of Alliance Française Mrs Marina Lacal, 130 pupils from six schools in Port Harcourt and additional 60 students from local Universities participated in the guided visit and interactive activities.
Schools that took part in the Programme include Cornerstone International school, Vine, International, Greenoak, Gold gate Montessori, Helm Bridge and Virgo Praedicanda International school.
Others are the University of Port Harcourt,(UNIPORT) Rivers State University (RSU)and the Ignatius AJuru University of Education (AUE)
Mrs Lacal further said that through this initiative Alliance Française Harcourt and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to educating younger generations and promoting global awareness through language, culture and environmental engagement
However, the exhibition witnessed interactive tools such as French-Language game, quizzes, memory challenges, fill-in -the -blanks. It also provides a platform to explore major ocean issues including climate change,biomliversity loss, plastic pollution, sustainable fishing and climate induced migration all through a linguistic and civic lens.
In line with it’s eco conscious approach , all displayed banners used for the exhibition will be recycled into eco friendly souvenirs such as(key chains) that would be given to participants after the event, to further help reinforce the message that every action counts.
It would be recalled that all snacks and drinks provided during the visit were served with low plastic packaging in line with the environmental message of the event.
The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on the lives of the average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the forests across the nation are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him and other leaders to assist the youths who are interested in jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka, praised the determination and sacrifices made by the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF); the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for his sacrifices and untiring efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.
Rivers-born business mogul, Chief Clement Anele, has pledged his determination to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies, to reach the unreached and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele, who gave this indication while receiving an Award of Education Ambassador from the Rivers State Postgraduate Students Association in his office in Port Harcourt, said he has a covenant with God to give succour to the needy, especially widows, ,students, clerics and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele ,the Managing Director of Anele Good Heart Foundation,
vowed to continue to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies to reach the unreached, and the vulnerable by providing basic necessities of life to them.
He said, “I cannot be everywhere. I need to partner with students to reach the unreached in the society. The sole aim is to improve the living standard of the vulnerable among us .
It is important we touch lives through the little resources God has made available to us .We don’t expect reward from human beings, but from God.
I feel happy and joyful seeing widows, students and the less- privileged benefiting from the foundation .It was a dream God gave me to assist making the society better. I don’t need anyone to praise me for doing it .It is a divine calling to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the group, Mr Ken Itari, described Chief Anele as an extraordinary individual, who has impacted on humanity, especially the students and widows through his foundation.
He said the honour done to the business mogul by the students was borne out of their desire to partner with him to build a better future for the youths.
He said the students would continue to stand with the philanthropist in his vision to reduce hunger and change the society for the good of all.
He noted that Chief Anele’s scholarships to the students and providing food on the tables of the widows and many vulnerable persons, using his hard-earned resources, show his immense love for humanity, stressing that his reward for the good works he is doing can only come from God.