Game up for lawless okada, keke riders, says LASG

The Lagos State Government has frowned on the brazen disobedience to the state traffic laws especially by commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators.

It has therefore vowed to ensure total compliance with the ban on the use of motorcycles and tricycles on major road and bridges in the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, who stated this during a press conference at Alausa-Ikeja, directed all law enforcement agencies in the state “to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes”.

This came just as the Lagos state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Olugbemide, said in the last three weeks, the agency had recorded an alarming number of crashes from motorcycle accidents across the state as a result of the surge in recklessness and impunity of the riders.

A statement by Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, quoted the transport commissioner as saying, “Following the flagrant violation of the traffic laws and other anomalies on the roads, Lagos State Government on Thursday read the riot act to motorcycle and tricycle operators, noting that the restriction on them from plying 10 major highways, 40 bridges and roads within six local governments and nine local council development areas in the state is still in force.

“The state government also expressed government’s displeasure at the disobedience to the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018 which restricts the operations of commercial motorcycles riders known as Okada and driving against traffic, known as one way driving.”

The commissioner also said, “In spite of all the efforts of Mr Governor to reform our transport sector, it is therefore disheartening to note a lot of our people are still going against the extant law of the state on transport operation and safe driving on our roads and in our communities.

“The state government prioritises the safety and security of the people. As a government, we cannot continue to watch this lawlessness develop into an uncontrollable situation.

“I say the game is over because in the last few months, we have witnessed a lot of security and safety challenges apparently as a result of the activities of unscrupulous ‘Okada riders.’ These operators do not only violate the provisions of the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, 2018 with respect to restriction of areas of operations, but perpetrate crime using their motorcycles.”

“With the upsurge in the number of commercial motorcycle operators, we shall intensify our enforcement strategy.”

He said the state government would immediately set up a joint enforcement team that would involve various transport union leaders.

“We hereby direct all law enforcement agencies; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), task force and the Nigerian police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes,” he said.

Another statement by the Assistant Director,

Public Affairs Unit of state transportation ministry, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, reported the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, represented at the press conference by a superintendent of police, Ozoani Damasus, said the police would do all within its power to ensure security of lives and property of the citizenry.

The Chairman, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, stated that the unit would not back down in its effort to rid okada riders of restricted routes and areas in the state.