Wilson Adekumola
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that the order that restrained commercial motorcycles, popularly called ‘okada’ in 10 Local Government Areas and 15 Local Council Development Areas, in the metropolis has not changed.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, made this disclosure during an unscheduled monitoring of some restricted areas within the state, where large numbers of okada riders had returned.
Recall that the State Government, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on June 1, 2022 banned the operation of commercial motorcycles in some Local Government Areas which include; Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere and Eti-Osa.
And also some Local Council Development Areas under them, which are; Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Lagos Island East, Yaba and Coker Aguda. With others at; Itire-Ikate, Eti-Osa West, Iru Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Ejigbo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo, the Transport Special Adviser urged both riders and passengers to keep off.
Giwa, however, called on residents of the state to abide by the this order as both the riders and passengers are both liable to three years in prison if found culpable with their motorcycles impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 and 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
The Special Adviser stressed that despite the viable alternatives provided for okada operators which were expected to mitigate the effect of the ban on their livelihood, the riders still disobeyed the order.
While explaining the some of the viable alternatives provided for the operators by the State Government, Giwa noted that the; Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, vocational training, Ministry of Wealth Creations and Employment; internship programmes, Office of Civic Engagement, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Loan for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Lagos Economic Acceleration Programme and the Ministry of Agriculture are all trade support for the riders.
He added that the State Government’s First and Last Mile Bus Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme and other sustainable modes of transportation were also part of interventions provided to abate he inconveniences it causes for those who depend on commercial motorcycles for means of livelyhood.
Giwa said, “The position of the government on okada is very clear, there is no going back in order to consolidate on the achievements made so far in the decrease in an accident and crime rates as well as the return of sanity to the communities within the state.”
He stated further that the Security agencies who have been assisting State Government including the Nigeria Police Force, the Army, Navy and Air force are still available for the enforcement on all the banned areas as well as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and the Anti-Okada Squad.
