57 Councils Join Forces To Enforce Okada Ban

Afrik Update

News,AFRICA
NIGERIA

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

 

     The Chairmen of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have vowed to join forces with the Lagos State Government to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycle riders, also known as okada riders from plying 475 roads in the Lagos metropolis.

At a news conference at the Bariga LCDA today, the chairmen under the aegis of Conference 57, said the councils fully support Governor Babatunde Fashola in the matter and would strive to ensure the success of the restriction.

Chairman, Conference 57, Akeem Sulaiman, lamented that the restriction on okada riders had been attended by a myriad of misunderstanding by people in some quarters.

“Given the security challenges in contemporary Nigeria, it is not out of place for any serious government to take measures that will entrench a sense of security in the people. Of the 30 armed robbery cases recorded in Lagos State between July and October 2012, 22 are motorcycles and tricycles related.

“By interpolation, this means that 73 percent of armed robbery cases in Lagos State involve motorcycles and tricycles. No sane government or people can sit back, watch and maintain a criminal silence over this menace to the society,” he said.  

“From January 2012 to date, 63 people have been killed while 59 others sustained injuries by the same cause. This dreadful statistics cannot be allowed to stand. Consequently, the recent action by the state government to curtail this ugly trends is welcomed and should be embraced by all,” he said.

Sulaiman stated that if some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, states had banned okada riding, people should not criticise the Lagos State government for taking similar action.

“We are in full support of the government’s action in respect of the subject matter and hereby call on the Association of Commercial Motorcycle operators in Lagos State to cooperate with the government and not allow themselves to be ill-advised and misguided by disgruntled elements disguising as their friends,” he added.

The chairman implored the state government to encourage those who genuinely cooperate with the law by enabling them access loans to procure taxis for their businesses.

“We also wish to advise the state government to provide more BRT buses as the people have shown that it is a veritable means of transportation, judging by the number of people who queue at the bus stops to take the advantage of the buses,” he said.

He enjoined the Commissioner of Police to direct the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to meet with okada associations and tricycle operators and the LGs and LCDAs to ensure that those who complied with the restriction order were not harassed or arrested.