The Ministry of Transportation has revealed that the National Council on Transportation has approved the commencement of bicycle riding project in the Federal Capital Territory.
Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation disclosed this on tuesday in Sokoto at the end of the National Council on Transportation meeting.
“We approved that we should do a pilot project on bicycle riding in FCT, this is because Abuja is the only city that has a facility for bicycle riding”.
He said that the use of bicycle as a means of transportation would reduce congestion on the road as well as improve the health of riders.
“For other States, who want to do it, we must provide facility before they can proceed with it; we want to separate them from the roads because some motorists are impatient.”
The Minister stated that bicycle riding was not a new means of transportation, noting that countries like China, United Kingdom amongst others use it.
On other projects, Mr Amaechi mentioned that the Lagos-Ibadan railway construction would need about 150,000 workers before its completion.
“Construction alone that is going on between Lagos- Ibadan would really boost the economy”.
“The railway work that is going on there will need about 150,000 workers and when it is done, the business it would generate would help employ people”
The use of Bicylce for transportation was, in modern history, advocated seriously for by Late Ojo Maduekwe who was Minister of Transportation during the era of President Obasanjo. Mr. Maduekwe, who was Minister from 2000 to 2003, was spotted severally himself riding on a bike.
Mr Maduekwe was pushed into a ditch by a bus while cycling to work.
