KOREDE FOGO
The Lagos state government is planning a statewide ban on activities of commercial motorcyclist, also known as, Okada rider over 86 per cent drop in crime rates in Lagos State.
The planned ban is coming after it successfully banned the operation of commercial motorcycles in six local governments and nine LCDAs in June this year.
Now, the state government is considering a total ban on Okadas in all local government and Local Council Development Area in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made the disclosure at a forum with the theme: “Okada Ban, What Next: Review of Enforcement and Compliance, Two Months After.” organised to review the ban on commercial motorcycles in parts of the state n Lagos on Tuesday.
The six local governments areas affected by the earlier ban are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.
Omotoso said after seeing the results of the ban in the six local government areas, the people of Lagos had been calling on the government to expand the ban , adding that some people have suggested that the ban should be statewide, considering the present anxiety over security.
He said the forum is to take stock of the government’s decision on the ban and agree on the next step to take recalling the criticisms that initially trailed the ban to be based largely on sentiments of those who had not witnessed the havoc some of the Okada riders caused in the areas of health and security.
According to him, “residents were being robbed of their belongings by robbers who used motorcycles to flee scenes of crimes.“Our public hospitals were being filled with victims of Okada accidents, doctors had their hands full at Emergency wards, and hoodlums who rode unregistered motorbikes posed great security risks.”
The commissioner said all stakeholders now have the opportunity to make suggestions on what steps the government should take on the matter.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, said the ban had recorded significant successes and compliance, adding that in the affected areas within the period under review, available records’ showed that crime and accidents had reduced drastically.
“In the affected areas within the period under review, available records show that crime and accident rates reduced astronomically by 86 per cent and 63.7 per cent, respectively.
“While a total of 7,500 motorcycles were impounded and crushed accordingly,” he added.
He said the rise in the level of insecurity nationwide has made it imperative to review the impact of the ban on motorcycles in parts of the state and further steps to protect the people.
“The Federal Government is presently considering the total ban of motorcycle operations across the federation as most of these underground activities are been enhanced with the use of motorcycles.
“Also, the attention of the state government has been drawn to the security threat parading the news across all socio-media platforms that some unscrupulous individuals are planning to attack the state.”
Mr Oladeinde said the government was already working round the clock to secure the state , saying that the focus on Okada operation was due to their non-compliance to traffic rules and regulations, and their being used for robbery, kidnapping, arms supply, and attacks on citizens.