Piqued by the perceived nuisance value of commercial motorcycle operators known as ‘okada’ riders in Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday stormed the streets to personally arrest some operators who rode against the traffic. This was before two of his commissioners announced their ban from Lagos streets.
The Governor, who was returning from Apapa area where he had gone to commission LSDPC housing scheme, intercepted the okada riders by directing his security aides to stop the erring motorcyclists riding against the traffic on the highway, before handing the culprits to law enforcement officials for prosecution.
The arrests took place at Apapa –Ijora link bridge, just as the Lagos state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and his Transportation counterpart Mr. Kayode Opeifa jointly addressed newsmen to place a tactical ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists in the State.
Speaking at the press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre? in Alausa? , Bello said that the menace of the? okada riders have become worrisome? prompting the State government to ban their operation in virtually all the roads in the State.
He listed the sins of motorcycle operators to include,” riding without the use of crash helmets, riding on the medians, kerbs and walkways, disobedience to traffic rules and regulations, the traffic signal lights, plying the highways and working in prohibited areas even at restricted time, the operators have not changed from these illegal acts”.
He noted that many motorists and okada riders had cultivated the habit of driving against the traffic exhibiting, in the process, wanton disobedience of traffic lights, signal and said that the state was now witnessing shameless act of open defecation and urination in public places.
Bello explained that the State environment has also been distorted through indiscriminate erection of bill boards, callous acts of littering and trampling on beautified sites by the Okada riders .
“ We wish to emphatically state that motorcycles popularly known as “okada” is not an approved means of commercial public transportation in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government more than any other State Government, has been very tolerant of the menace posed by its operation as a means for socio economic reasons,”he addedTo this end, the State government warned that any Okada rider caught carrying pregnant women, school age children, women with children on their back will be prosecuted, as the State government has vowed to apply non-custodian sentences by making offenders to wash public toilets in the full glare of the media.
The law enforcement agents especially LASTMA, KAI and the Nigeria Police have been directed to ensure zero tolerance. Government is seriously disturbed with the rate at which motorcycle operators flagrantly disobey the law and have no regard for the safety of other road users.