The newly elected National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Alhaji Samsudeen Apelogun, has said that he would rebrand the association in a way that will earn it international recognition.
Speaking with newsmen ahead of his inauguration as the fifth President of the Association, slated for April 18 in the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Apelogun described motorcycle business as one that the government can invest in given its socio-economic potentials, noting that, ACOMORAN under his watch would lure investors into the country as well as collaborate with international organizations.
The National President-elect, who is fondly called “All Rounder”, said that foreign investors would be made to build their plant in Nigeria so that motorcycles and tricycles can be purchased at cheaper rates and their presence will have direct effects on the economic status of the nation since tricycle and motorcycle remains a big stakeholder.
He said his administration would change public perception about tricycle and motorcycle business which has in the past been seen a business of touts, pointing out that ACOMORAN has provided a means of livelihood to over 12 million Nigerians in absence of white collar job.
The National President frowned at suggestions to ban motorcycle business in some quarters, saying that such move will cause security challenges in the country.
According to him, there had been air mishaps in the past and there was no ban on the aviation sector. There had been accidents caused by trucks in different parts of the country and government did not give it a thought to ban the use of trucks. Banning motorcycle business will result in security challenge since over 12 million people would be out of job by the decision.
Alhaji Apelogun who was Chairman of the ACOMORAN in Ogun State in the last eight years recalled that the introduction of number plates to commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists helped in drastic reduction of crime rates, saying that it the step also aided the internally generated revenue drive of the state government.
Emphasising some of his lofty dreams for the association, Alhaji Apelogun said that his administration will work on putting a National Secretariat Complex in place, adding that the lives of riders and their commuters would be insured in case of job hazards while the riders only pay a token on a yearly basis.
He said that in case of fatality, the association will be responsible for helping the rider or his family with a good sum of money to start life afresh without going through any form of hardship.
The National President further hinted that members of the association would be given the opportunity to go on holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Jerusalem as a way of instilling the fear of God on them, recalling that there was no executive member of ACOMORAN in Ogun State who did not have pilgrimage experience.
Commending the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who doubles as the Grand Patron of the association, Alhaji Apelogun described him as the best Minister in the country, noting that the endorsement of this victory by the minister was encouraging.
“Baba Buhari is our product. We exhibit it always. Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi is our Grand Patron. He endorsed me few days ago in his office in Abuja. During my visit, the Minister said, ‘meritoriously, you deserve to be the National President.’ I call this, the final endorsement,” he said.
The National President of ACOMORAN, who expressed confidence in raising the bar of the association to worth trillions of naira at the expiration of his tenure, advised members to maintain decency at all times without seeing themselves as third class citizens to anyone while they see the commuters as their family members
He added that come 2023, the association members, who have been non-partisan by principle, would be encouraged to indirectly go into politics by contesting for seats in the Federal House of Representatives and States Houses of Assembly respectively, pointing out that the numeric strength of the association will enhance their success at the polls.
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