Lagos State Government said it is beginning full
enforcement on commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders from
plying the restricted 475 roads across the state.
In recent time, okada riders have taken over the state’s
highway in flagrant disregard to the Road Traffic Law restricting them from
plying major highways in the state.
For most parts of the second term tenure of the immediate
governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, okada riders were harassed and hounded on
Lagos roads by policemen and all other law enforcement officers, including
local council officials. But shortly before the 2015 general elections, like a
beautiful bride, politicians, political parties and their affiliates were
falling over themselves in a desperate attempt to secure the support and
loyalty of commercial okada riders ahead of the elections.
In particular, the Support Group For Ambode (SGFA) ahead of
the elections distributed a campaign leaflet tagged OKADALLOWED sticker, which
read: “You can ride okada on 9,000 roads and stay off 475! Yes you can.”
However, at a joint press conference in Ikeja,
addressed by the state government and the police, Acting Commissioner for
Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, warned that government would no longer
tolerate okada riders on restricted roads, highways and bridges.
“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, restate 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 therefrom; there is a surge in driving against traffic by okada. We
are also witnessing a huge increase in motorcycle-related crime,” he added.
Some weeks ago, The Guardian had reported that the gradual
return of commercial motorcyclists to major streets in Lagos, including
expressways, where they were barred from plying a couple of years back, appears
to come with its downside, which is an escalation of criminal activities, such
as phone and bag snatching, and armed robbery.
Some road users, who spoke to The Guardian, said the
hoodlums operate in the early hours of the day, where they torment those that
venture out early for their businesses, and those returning home from night
engagements, including work.The rider and his accomplice, apart from being
armed with guns, and other dangerous weapons, also carry sharp scissors with
which they briskly cut off the straps of their victims’ bags, and zoom off even
before an alarm is raised.Areas like Surulere, Anthony Village, Apapa, Ikeja,
Isolo and Mafoluku, have continually witnessed the menace of these daredevil
robbers.
Paulina Mathew, a victim of Okada robbers narrated how two
men on a motorcycle accosted her early in the morning as she headed for the
market, and dispossessed her of her handbag and cash.
Source: Guardian News
