Lagosians hail Sanwo-Olu for banning Okada

SOME residents of Lagos State on Tuesday hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s courage in banning commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke) in some local governments, highways and bridges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government on Monday announced the restriction and ban of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in six local governments with effect from February 1.
The residents, who spoke to NAN in interviews in Lagos, said that it was better to be unemployed than to die or remain permanently incapacitated.
Mr. Williams Dada, an auditor in a private firm, who praised the courage of the governor, however, expressed fear that the high-handedness of some law enforcement agents could bring pains to the operators.
Dada, also a cleric, urged commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators to heed the law.
He advised the law enforcement agents to implement the law with human face.
Dada said: “The ban and restriction are good for the state. It is only in Lagos, out of the major cities that you see Okada riding in the metropolis and condoning all sorts of their excesses.
“Although, I don’t think the government is sincere about it because when electioneering comes now, you won’t hear things like this. These operators are veritable tools in the hands of the politicians.
“Looking at the rate of Okada accidents and fatalities, one will not oppose this move. Go to hospitals and see.
“If we tolerate because of the unemployment rate, it is better to be unemployed than to die.
“My fear is that most of the law enforcement agents will take the advantage to enrich themselves and inflict pains on the operators. Government should see to this while implementing the law.”
A lawyer, Mr. Wale Akande, who also commended the government for being courageous to implement the law, said that the enforcement of the law would not only enhance safety, but would also foster a more organised society.
“The laws have been there unimplemented because of the gains the government derives from operators, especially during elections.
“I think it is a good step if the government is now ready to damn the consequence.
“We cannot continue to waste the human capital of the nation in Okada accidents. No, not for any reason, including unemployment.
“Those who live on Okada and Keke should limit their operations to the area allowed by the law,” Akande said.
Mr. Olanrewaju Dunmiju, a screen painter, said that the ban and restriction were laudable because it would save a lot of lives.
Dunmiju, who urged the government to intensify efforts at creating an enabling environment for businesses and artistic works to thrive, said that many who engaged in Okada had been trained in one field or the other.
“The ban is laudable on major express roads, not on connecting roads.
“In the past, law enforcement agents, especially the police used this ban to inflict unbearable exploitation on the defenceless okada riders.
“Such laws mostly affected the masses and the poor which the government had neglected and left to their plight of struggling for survival. I think, there is need for human face while implementing this,” he said.
NAN reports that the government, after the State Security Council Meeting on Monday, said that it would begin enforcement of the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 which banned the operation of motorcycles (okada) and tricycles (keke) in some local governments (LGs) and local council development areas (LCDAs).
They include Apapa LG, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LG, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LG, Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda LCDAs, Ikeja LG, Onigbongbo and Ojodu LCDAs, Eti-Osa LG, Ikoyi-Obalende and Iru/Victoria Island LCDAs, Lagos Island LG and Lagos Island East LCDA.
According to the state government, the rate of crimes aided by motorcycles and tricycles keeps rising, as they are also used as getaway means by criminals.
The government added that the law also banned motorcycles and tricycles on all highways, bridges and listed roads.
The major highways include: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway and Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Others are: Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road and Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road.

-NAN