Jare Babatunde
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has imposed a total ban on operations of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in six Local Governments (LGs) and nine Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs).
The governor issued the order at a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers at the State House in Alausa on Wednesday.
Enforcement of the new order on the ban is to take effect from June 1, 2022, across the listed councils affected by the ban.
The affected LGs are – Apapa LG, Ikeja LG, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere and Eti-Osa.
While the LCDAs Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, Onigbongbo LCDA, Lagos Island West LCDA and Lagos Island East LCDA, Yaba LCDA, Coker Aguda LCDA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, Eti-Osa East LCDA, Eti-Osa West LCDA, Iru Victoria Island LCDA and Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA
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, sternly warning that the State Government would not condone any security formation that relaxes the new ban in its jurisdiction.
“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 Governments and their Local Council Development Areas, effective from June 1, 2022”, the Governor directed,
“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 warned.
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.
“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:, he said.
“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.”
Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, directed his men to ensure complete enforcement of the Governor’s order in the listed councils and areas.
