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“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 and the association grows, you have a stake in taking care of yourselves, the association, and the republic of South Sudan. You have a role to provide leadership to build peace, to respect yourselves and also respect the women and we must work together to end GBV in South Sudan” , said Dr. Olajide Ademola, the UNFPA Country representative during the flag off of the road show that saw the riders march from Freedom Hall through customs market, to freedom bridge, Konyo-konyo, melekia, muduria , ministries -Kololo stretch to Munuki-Gudele one and back to Freedom Hall

Dr. Demola thanked the leadership of the office of the First Vice President H.E. Mama Rebecca Nyandeng De-Mabior and the leadership provided by the SSMBA and pledged to work closely with the two institutions to grow the association.

 

The Executive Director in the office of the Vice president, David Dau said that the safety of every passenger who boards a boda-boda bike entirely lies in the hands of the bike rider. “Today we are here to talk about your safety and that of the passenger you carry, so your own safety and that of your passenger is very paramount. Every single day you interact with more people than any of us, that is why the government in partnership with UNFPA have teamed to work on the safety of boda-boda drivers and their passengers. I wish you the best”, added Mr. Dau.

 

“I am extremely happy with the support UNFPA has given us. They have given us helmets, reflector jackets, these are very important protective gears for safety. There is a lot that is at stake through our cooperation/ collaboration with UNFPA. And we thank our government too”, said Abraham Jok, the chairperson of the South Sudan Motorcycle Bod-Boda Association-SSMBA at the flag off or the road show on September 18, 2022.

 

The road show was a build -up to the Boda-Boda convention that brought together boda-boda riders from across South Sudan, including the three administrative areas, to discuss key issues related to sexual and reproductive health promotion for positive and healthy behaviour, including positive masculinity to denounce gender-based violence against women and young girls. These were brought out during the flag off ceremony.

The South Sudan commercial motorbikes also known as boda-boda plays a very important role in the transport sector across the country and is a source of income to many young people and households. The commercial motorbikes represent 80% means of transportation, and it is estimated that a total of 70,000 Boda-boda riders across the Country including the ten states and the three administrative areas. It is estimated that one boda-boda rider transports an average number of 15 to 20 people per day and most of the riders are young people under 35 years. The role of the Boda -Boda riders in national economy as well as importance in creating a safe and enabling environment in public spaces, especially for women and girls is paramount.