In an applauded reaction to the insecurity posed by commercial motorcycle riders in Lagos State otherwise known as ‘Okada’, the Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced a total ban on motorcycles, in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
With the pronouncement, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Abiodun Alabi, has also directed his men to ensure complete enforcement of the governor’s order in the listed councils and areas from the commencement date.
The governor, who made the announcement earlier today (Wednesday May 18, 2022) while interacting with all DPOs and Area Commanders across the state at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the ban would take effect from June 1, 2022. The affected Local Government Areas include Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa. The total ban order, according to the governor extends to all LCDAs under the listed councils.
The fresh Okada ban followed the February 2020 restriction placed on the activities of the commercial motorcycles. Sanwo-Olu said the government took the decision in line with the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 to immediately address the chaos and menace created by operations of ‘Okada’ in the listed areas. Sanwo-Olu told the police to enforce the order without compromise. He warned that the state government would not condone any security formation that relaxes the new ban in its jurisdiction.
The governor explained further: “After critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six Local Government Areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated. We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six Local Government and their Local Council Development Areas, effective from June 1, 2022.
“This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period, and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do. We have given the notice now and we expect all commercial motorcycles plying the routes in the listed councils and areas to vacate the highways before enforcement begins. The enforcement will be total.”
Sanwo-Olu advised residents patronising Okada riders on highways to embrace the alternative transport schemes already provided by the government to plan their journey. He said the government had provided Last Mile Buses, medium-capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for the convenience of commuters. The governor insisted that Okada riding on the highways remained unsafe and would no longer be tolerated. He said the State Government had been ramping up construction work on its two rail line projects to further increase the choices of commuting for residents.
Again Sanwo-Olu said: “We have provided Last Mile buses in the affected areas; they are working and effective. We also have medium-capacity buses and high-capacity buses working in these areas. Before the end of the year, we are also bringing the rail along these corridors with their terminals. We have provided jetties as well to provide alternatives. “We will not sit back and watch criminally minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws. The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay, and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement.”
