SANWO-OLU ORDERED A TOTAL BAN ON OKADA IN SIX LOCAL COUNCILS AND NINE LCDAs
• The Okada menace in Lagos is disturbing, and residents must embrace safe alternatives,’ says the governor.
• The Okada Ban’s Second Phase Is On The Way says the Governor.
In response to the growing threat and nuisance posed by commercial motorcycles, also known as Okadas, the Lagos State Government has imposed a new ban to curtail the riders’ unruly behaviour.
On Wednesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared a total ban on Okada on all highways in the State’s six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The Governor directed security operatives to enforce the proscription order across the listed councils beginning June 1, 2022. Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa are among the councils affected.
The total ban order applies to all LCDAs affiliated with the listed councils.
The directive was issued by the Governor during a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State House in Alausa.
The new Okada ban followed the February 2020 restriction on commercial motorcycle activities.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the Government made the decision in accordance with the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 to address the chaos and threat created by Okada operations in the listed areas as soon as possible.
Sanwo-Olu directed the police to strictly enforce the order, warning that the State Government would not tolerate any security formation that relaxed the new ban in its jurisdiction.
“We have seen that the menace has not abated after a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six Local Government Areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020,” he said. We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities on highways and bridges within these six Local Governments and their Local Council Development Areas, which will take effect on June 1, 2022.
“We are embarking on a phased ban during this period, and we expect that within a short time when this ban is enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities have yet to be banned will be able to find something else to do.”
We’ve issued the notice, and we expect all commercial motorcycles travelling the routes in the listed councils and areas to leave before enforcement begins. The punishment will be severe.”
Sanwo-Olu advised residents who use Okada riders on highways to plan their journeys using the alternative transportation schemes already provided by the government. He stated that the government had provided Last Mile Buses, medium-capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for commuters’ convenience.
The Governor insisted that Okada’s riding on the highways was still dangerous and would not be tolerated. He stated that the State Government was accelerating construction on its two rail line projects in order to provide residents with more commuting options.
“We have provided Last Mile buses in the affected areas; they are operational and effective,” he said. We also have medium and high-capacity buses operating in these areas. We are also bringing the rail along these corridors with their terminals before the end of the year. We have also provided jetties as alternatives.
“We will not stand by and watch criminals use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to commit crimes and criminality in Lagos.” Every day, lives are lost, preventable accidents occur, and riders do not follow any of our traffic laws. The situation has resulted in the total breakdown of law and order.
This ban is here to stay, and we will not tolerate any lapses in enforcement.”
Abiodun Alabi, Commissioner of Police, directed his officers to ensure that the Governor’s order was fully implemented in the listed councils and areas.
