By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The ban on commercial motorcycles otherwise known as Okada in Lagos State has been extended to more local councils from Thursday, September 1, 2022.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Frederic Oladehinde, at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, disclosed that from next month, Okada riders would not be allowed to ply major roads in four additional Local Government Areas (LGAs) and six Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The new areas to observe the ban on commercial motorcycle operations are Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu and Mushin Local Government Areas as well as Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Isolo LCDA, Bariga LCDA, and Odi-Olowo LCDA.
Earlier, precisely on June 1, 2022, the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, banned Okada in Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, as well as LCDAs under them after a young man was lynched by Okada riders in Victoria Island.
While addressing newsmen today, Mr Oladehinde said the extension of the proscription order was a move by the state government to sustain the gains recorded in the ongoing action against operations of motorcycle operators in the metropolis.
According to him, Okada accidents and fatalities have reduced by 63.7 per cent across the 15 local councils where the first phase of ban had been enforced, stressing that the development also significantly brought down the rate of crimes associated with motorcycles.
This, he said, led to resolutions reached at a stakeholders’ forum last Tuesday, with interest groups in which the participants unanimously urged the Government to make the Okada ban state-wide.
“The Ministry in conjunction with the inter-ministerial committee on Okada, having critically accessed these resolutions and the challenges of Okada operations on the security architecture of the State, recommended to Mr. Governor not to go back on the already laid down phase ban in a bid to sustain the gains.
“Based on the apparent positive impact of the ban and the resolution of the Stakeholders’ Forum, Mr Governor has approved the ban of Okada in another four LGAs and their respective five LCDAs for the second phase of the total ban, in addition to the on-going ban in the six LGAs and their respective LCDAs,” the Commissioner said.
The state government advised residents to embrace alternative means of transportation for their journey, noting that the State had provided safe and sustainable First- and Last-Mile Transport Scheme, BRT Scheme, e-hailing taxi Scheme and other acceptable means for the safety of commuters.
Mr Oladehinde disclosed that 7,500 motorcycles had been impounded and crushed in the ongoing enforcement, while resistance had dropped sharply. He issued a stern warning to riders who may want to flout the proscription order, stressing that the enforcement would not be sparing.
The Commissioner said the state government had interventions in place to empower the affected Okada riders as an alternative means of livelihood. He urged them to embrace the intervention programmes which are being coordinated by six Government ministries and also Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
“It is important to reiterate the State Government’s commitment to the safety, security of lives and properties in the State. In exercising this, any motorcycle impounded will be crushed and the process will be made public.
“Both riders and passengers arrested on proscribed routes will be made to face the full wrath of the law in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018,” he said.