Kogi Poly bans Okada operations on Campus

The Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has banned the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called ‘Okada’ on its campus for security reasons.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Luke Tijani, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja on Monday.

Tijani said the directive was part of the measures put in place by the Rector, Mr Isah Muhammed, to beef up security on the campus.

He said one of the rector’s priorities was security, adding that the measure was not meant to obstruct the students’ movement on campus but to protect the institution.

“Students must show understanding. The measure is of benefit for the students because of the security challenges in some parts of the country,” he said.

Joseph Musa, a physically challenged student, appealed to the rector to rescind the ban because students in his category had no alternative means of transportation.

Musa said the distance between the institution’s gate and his faculty was far and there was no way he could meet up with his lectures without boarding Okada.

He pleaded with the rector to reconsider his decision as a way of helping the students residing off campus.
Also, Ms Esther Alabi, another student, said the beefing up of security on campus was for the good of the students.

Alabi pleaded with the school authorities to provide the students with an alternative means of transportation with the ban on Okada operations on campus.