Businessman and APC political figure Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, widely known as “Jagaban,” has unveiled plans to roll out a new line of locally-assembled motorbikes Jagaban Okada in a bid to create jobs and ease transport challenges across Sierra Leone.
The initiative, announced during Kamara’s recent visit to China for supply negotiations, will begin with the local assembly of 5,000 motorbikes. The bikes will be sold on a cost-recovery basis, making them more affordable for young entrepreneurs who rely on commercial bike transport for their livelihoods.
A large assembly plant is currently under construction along the Waterloo–Mammah Highway and is expected to employ hundreds of Sierra Leoneans. Jagaban said the plant would serve as a cornerstone for industrial growth and job creation, particularly within the informal transport sector.
Further plans include the establishment of regional assembly and service hubs in all four provincial headquarters. These hubs will not only produce and maintain the motorbikes but also train local technicians, expanding the project’s impact on skills development and community employment.
“This initiative is about more than transportation—it’s about empowerment, decentralization, and building a new industrial base for Sierra Leone,” Kamara said.
The Jagaban Okada project is being hailed by supporters as a potential game-changer in addressing youth unemployment and promoting local manufacturing.
