By Charles K. Mark
Central Equatoria State governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony, has unveiled plans to safeguard Boda-Boda sector, guaranteeing safety of riders through security vigilance.
Adil, who met with the Central Equatoria State Boda-Boda Association led by Mr. Levi Abugo Lasuba, said the sector needs top security priority because it is a source of employment for many.
He applauded the recent initiative to digitize the Boda-Boda sector and reiterated his administration’s support.
The State Minister of Roads and Bridges, Mawa A. Moses, reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to working closely with the Boda-Boda Association, including its potential partners, to create an enabling environment for the successful conduct of their activities.
For his part, Mr. Levi Abugo, Chairperson of the CES Boda-Boda Association, highlighted the issues surrounding the sector, ranging from the illegal existence of some associations to increased cases of theft on motorbikes.
In 2022, UNFPA donated safety items, including helmets and reflector jackets, to some boda-boda riders as protective gear for their road safety.
“The boda-boda sector is very important in every African country, including South Sudan, and if you are going to benefit from the sector, we must make sure that you are protected,” Dr. Olajide Ademola, the UNFPA Country Representative, said during the flag-off of a road show in Juba last year.
The World Bank estimated that South Sudan suffered an unemployment rate of 21 percent as of last year.
But again, President Salva Kiir had formed a high-level committee to look into the rampant unemployment among the youth.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Albino Bol, revealed in April 2022 that plans were underway to use interest-free loans to fix the problem of unemployment among the youth by promoting entrepreneurial culture.