Kano - The prices of bicycles and tricycles have increased in Kano metropolis following the ban on commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as ``Achaba''
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that while prices of bicycles and tricycles had increased due to high demand, prices of motorcycles remain stable.
Yunusa Gama, a dealer of bicycles at the popular Fagge sales depot, told NAN that prices of both new, used bicycles increased shortly after the ban on commercial motorcycling was mooted by the State Government.
Giving a breakdown of the hike, Gama said a Hero bicycle, which used to sell for N14 000, now cost N15 000, while Phoenix 26 that used to cost N11 000 now sold for N13 000.
Similarly, Senior Max brand, which was sold at N12 000 now cost N13 000, while Suzuya, which was N10 500, now cost N12 500.
On the second hand category, Gama said that Phoenix 26, which used to cost N12 000 now sells for N15 000, while the 27th Edition, which sold for N14 000 barely a month ago, now cost N20 000.
Gama said before now, not more than 15 to 20 bicycles were sold out at the depot in a day, but that the level of patronage had had now increased astronomically to the extent that up to 100 bicycles were being sold in a day, especially at weekends.
The situation at the nearby tricycles depot was also not very different as a dealer, Mohammadu MaiLamba, told NAN that the price had increased by N10 000 for a tricycle.
He, however, said that the cost of motorcycles had remained stable.
He said a tricycle that used to cost N373 000, including the assembling of its parts, now sold for N383,000 stressing that the level of patronage had also increased by more than four times.
NAN recalls that the State Government had on Jan. 20, suspended the use of motorcycles for commercial transportation before the state House of Assembly last Wednesday passed into law the bill prohibiting the service in Kano metropolis.
NAN
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