Lagos state government will soon begin
full enforcement of the activities of commercial motorcyclist’s operators, popularly
known as okada riders on the 475 restricted roads in the state.
Anofiu Elegushi, acting commissioner for
transport in the state warned during a press conference Thursday in Alausa that
the LASG would no longer tolerate okada riders on restricted roads, highways
and bridges.
His words: “We will not condone okada riding against traffic,
especially those who ply their trade along Lagos- Abeokuta expressway and
Ojota-Ikorodu town and who use BRT restricted/reserve lane.”
All these are not in sync with the law. There is a need for us
to, at this time, restates the provisions of the law so as to understand the
premise of our planned actions in this regard,” he said.
“In line with this administration’s plan to build a Lagos that
works for all, we are determined to engage with unions/associations of tricycle
operators and okada operators to ensure their members engage with us in the
process of ensuring public safety.
“Our present concern is also borne of the need to prevent
accidents resulting from okada which is on the increase currently.
By implication, there are increased (death) cases of causalities
or maiming resulting therefore; there is a surge in driving against traffic by
okada. We are also witnessing a huge increase in motorcycle related crime,” he
added.
Elegushi said that the reduction in enforcement that had been
witnessed was a fall out of the need to restrategize and undertake enforcement
in a more civilized manner as dictated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, adding
that the nature of enforcement required that “we have broad database to ensure
compliance and enhance the capacity of government to enforce.”
The acting commissioner stated equivocally that the era of
impunity and crime enhanced and facilitated by okada riders were over, as
government would enforce the law to the letter.
“It is not uncommon to hear from the media or read report from
the Nigeria Police about criminals using Okada as get away. So also we have
reported incidences of okada being used instances of kidnap. Any responsible
government must then act promptly in this regard. This is why we are taking
this step.
“Against this background, we are left with little or no choice
than to restart enforcement. This, we will do in association in all unions
involved. We will set up joint enforcement teams to ensure that we get rid of
this menace,” he said.
Elegushi called on all enforcement agencies-Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS,) taskforce and
the Nigeria police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all
restricted routes.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde said
the government would not want to see okada riders plying the state’s highways
from now henceforth as the law enforcement agents would descend heavily on
them.
He explained that out of the 9,000 roads in Lagos, okada riders
were only restricted from plying 475 roads, while they could ply the rest.
A representative of the Lagos Commissioner of Police, ACP Imohim
Edgal said the police all Lagos police area commands had been directed to
enforce aggressively the restriction placed on okada riders from plying the
restricted routes
Source: Pmnews
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