Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger has banned the sale of motorcycles in the state.
Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, in a statement issued in Minna on Saturday, said the ban was due to incessant security challenges in parts of state.
He stated that the motorcycle sales ban was also informed by the fact that bandits and kidnappers now demand motorcycles as ransom.
The ban covers the sale of “any motorcycle (Bajaj, Boxer, Qiujeng, Honda ACE, Jingchen) with engine capacity from 185 Cubic Centimetres (cc) and above”.
Mr Matane stated also that the measure was aimed at eradicating the activities of criminals, bandits and kidnappers who unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens.
He added that the government was aware of the inconveniences the measure would cause the people, but the decision was taken in the overall interest of the state.
He appealed to dealers in motorcycles in the state to comply with the directive, adding that security agencies had been ordered to ensure its strict compliance and enforcement.
Mr Matane reaffirmed that commercial motorcycling and operation of illegal garages remained banned in Minna and its environs.