Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State Wednesday imposed a fresh and total ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada on all highways across six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, and the ban extends to all the LCDAs under them. Sanwo-Olu gave the directive during a meeting with the state commissioner of police, area commanders and divisional police officers (DPOs) at the State House, Ikeja.
He said that effective from June 1, security operatives should enforce the proscription order across the listed councils.
The ban came on the heels of the gruesome murder of a sound engineer, Sunday David Imoh, by a mob of Okada riders at the Admiralty Way, Lekki over an argument on N100 fare.
The mob was also said to have attacked and injured the band’s saxophonist, Francis Olatunji, and the keyboardist, Philip Balogun.
The governor explained that the fresh ban on okada followed the February 2020 restriction placed on the activities of commercial motorcycles.
He added that the government took the decision in line with the state’s Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, to immediately address the chaos and menace created by operations of commercial motorcyclists in the listed areas.
Sanwo-Olu added, “Government has provided last mile buses, medium capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for the convenience of commuters. 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.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Taskforce has continued with its mop up of commercial motorcycle riders at Lekki axis and some highbrow areas of the state. The chairman of the taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, said a total of 115 motocycles were impounded in the sting operation. Jejeloye said that the agency would ensure compliance with the orders restricting commercial motorcyclists in the state.
From Christiana T. Alabi, & Eugene Agha (Lagos)
