Lagos State Government has said that the ban on motorcycle operations in 10 Local Government Areas and 15 Local Council Development Areas is still in effect.
This was reiterated by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, in a statement on Thursday, October 20, 2022.
The Transportation Commissioner moted the peace that had reigned as well as improvement in security in areas where the activities of okada operators had been halted, restating that security agencies were on the alert to continue to enforce the ban without any compromise.
Oladeinde explained that the state government noticed the gradual return of some recalcitrant okada operators to some restricted areas, warning that it would not be condoned by the present administration.
The Commissioner emphasised that the state would not rescind its decision on the ban.
Enjoining the general public to comply with the law on the ban of okada in the affected parts of the state, Oladeinde said that both the rider and passenger would be liable to three-year imprisonment if apprehended and prosecuted, adding that motorcycles impounded would also be crushed in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1,2, and 3 of the Lagos State Transport Reform Law of 2018.
He disclosed that statistics had shown that accident rates in the areas where the activities of okada riders had been put on hold had decreased by 76 percent, pointing out that the state government had banned the operations of okada in 10 out of the 20 LGAs, including Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere and Eti-Osa.
“The Local Council Development Areas (LCDAS) under the affected LGAs are Apapa Iganmu, Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Lagos Island West, Lagos Island East, Yaba, and Coker Aguda. Others are Itire-Ikate, Eti-Osa East, Eti-Osa West, Iru Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Ejigbo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo”, he added.
The Commissioner revealed that more sustainable alternative means of transportation were being provided for the motoring public by the Sanwo-Olu administration with the ramping up of the mass transit Blue and Red Rail Lines.
He added that they would commence test-running operations by the end of the year.
Oladeinde urged both rider and passenger to move away from the fixed mindset of seeing the operation of okada as the only means of commuting, adding that the ban would eventually be extended to all the remaining LGAs and LCDAs.
