From June 1, 2022., Lagos State government on Wednesday said the commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders would stop operating in six council areas and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) under them.
The affected Local Governments are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Apapa and the nine LCDAs carved out of them.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at a news conference in Lagos, said unlike the earlier ban on Okada operations in these areas with no strict enforcement, the current ban would be total and would be enforced.
The governor charged all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and the Taskforce to ensure the ban is total and enforced from June 1.
Sanwo-Olu, who explained the ban in the six council areas was part of the phase banning of the Okada in the state, said: “This is the phase banning we are going to be embarking upon so that otherswould know that in a short while, it is either they get out or find something else to do.
“From the first of June, the LCDAs that are underneath the six councils, we are going to publish them and list all of them, so we are giving the notice now.
“Begin to plan your strategy now, from the first of June we want all the Okadas to be completely off these major roads.”
The governor advised residents patronising Okada riders on highways to embrace the alternative transport schemes already provided by the state government.
He said the government had provided Last Mile Buses, medium-capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for the convenience of commuters.
Saying Okada riding on the highways remained unsafe and would no longer be tolerated, he disclosed that the state government had been ramping up construction work on its two rail line projects to further increase the choices of commuting for residents.
His words: “We have provided Last Mile buses in the affected areas; they are working and effective. We also have medium-capacity buses and high-capacity buses working in these areas. 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.
“We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws. The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement.”
Present at the briefing were cabinet members, including Sanwo-Olu’s deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, governor’s Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde and the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi.