Residents of some parts of Lagos State have expressed dissatisfaction over the commencement of enforcement of the extended ban on commercial motorcycle operators (Okada) in more local governments and local council development areas by the Lagos State Government. The affected local governments include; Kosofe, Osodi Isolo, Somolu, and Mushin, while the LCDAs are Agboyi Ketu Ikoai,/Isheri, Isolo, Bariga, and Odi Olowo. The State government which insisted on Wednesday that there is no going back on the ban said defaulters of the ban on commercial motorcycles risked a three-year jail term, as enforcement for the Phase 2 ban starts on Friday. The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said this during a news conference in Ikeja, "We implore the general public to comply, as both the rider and passenger are liable to three years in prison if prosecuted.
"Their motorcycles will be impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.
"We implore the general public to join hands together with the state government by complying with the decision geared towards combating the monster that okada operation has created so that sanity can return to our state," Oladeinde said.
According to him, the extension of the ban to four more LGAs and LCDAs is in the right direction to ensure the security of lives and property.
"As a responsive government, we are not leaving the affected passengers stranded without any viable means of transportation, that is why we have made available alternative and sustainable means of transportation.
"The alternative transportation includes the First and Last Mile Bus Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme (LAGRIDE), and other acceptable modes of transportation, to go about their daily activities.
"The decision and position of the government on okada is very clear, and we are not compromising on this decision, which is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to the decrease in accidents and crime," the commissioner said.
Meanwhile, some commercial motorcyclists, yesterday, besieged the Lagos House, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to suspend the proposed ban on Okada riders.
Chairman of MOALS Lagos State Zone C, Mr. Tijani Pekins, who led the protest, urged the state government to engage the association and work out modalities to save millions of members, whose livelihoods will be massively affected by the enforcement of the ban.