The national legal adviser of Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN), Emmanuel Onedibe Esq. has said that the challenge faced by the union concerning splinter groups would soon be over.
The lawyer who doubles as the Anambra State Secretary of MOUN said the issue of splinter groups was discussed in a central working committee meeting held in Abuja on June 17, 2025 where all the stakeholders were present including Mr Jude Udegbe whose group was allegedly registered as Okada Welfare Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Onedibe described MOUN as a trade union, a product of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity which he said makes it a government business whereas any other one outside the Ministry should be known as a personal enterprise.
He noted that anybody could belong to any association as granted by the constitution but said as far as motorcycle business is concerned, MOUN is the umbrella body across the country.
“I’m aware of a splinter group headed by one Mr Jude Udegbe but he is also a member of the MOUN. He formed a splinter group because things did not go the way he expected.
“All of us were in Abuja where the Anambra issue was raised and we agreed that the splinter group structure would collapse in to MOUN. So, by the special grace of God, we are working towards that. No one is fighting each other. We are brothers.
“You know it’s not easy but we are working towards that and I can assure you that within a short time we will become one body, “he said.
On the issue of motorcycle operators uniform in Nnewi, he said: “The business of motorcycle riders today is not what it used to be some years ago. So, it hasn’t been long we started which was in September 2023.
“Upon registration, we faced some challenges. But one thing that is certain is that this union is being run by the constitution. As a matter of fact we are planning for that easy identification of the operators in the field.
“But rest assured that we are changing the narrative. Motorcycle riding in Nnewi and other towns is no longer like the one of agboros (touts). It’s now organized and taken another shape. In fact in no distant time Okada business in Anambra will be transformed to a white collar job that can attract educated people into it.
“So, the issue of Okada riders having uniforms for easy identification is in the pipeline. We are working towards that, “he added.
As commercial motorcycle riders are often accused of allowing criminals to infiltrate to the system, Onedibe said the union had since taken care of that.
“Infiltration of criminals has been there but it’s being handled. We have security measures in the system. We have Okada special squads that are always at work to checkmate any infiltration of criminal elements among the genuine commercial motorcycle riders.
“They work with security agencies including local vigilance groups. So, because of this arrangement you can hardly see any registered member of the union being involved in criminal activities. That’s is the truth.
“We don’t want members of the public to begin to see commercial motorcycle riders the way they were seen twenty years ago, “he explained.
