By Chinyere Aruogu
It is not going to be business as usual as the Lagos Stat government has resolved to fully enforce the law on Okada riding in the state.
Consequently, the Lagos State Government said it is set to begin full enforcement on okada riders from plying the restricted 475 roads across the state.
Of late, it has become difficult for the government to control the okada riders who have taken over the state’s highway in flagrant disregard to the Road Traffic Law restricting them from plying major highways in Lagos.
Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi warned on Thursday, December 1 at a joint press conference in Ikeja with the police authorities that government would no longer tolerate okada riders on restricted roads, highways and bridges.
Elegusi said: “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.
“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.”
The commissioner said the reduction in enforcement that had been witnessed was a fall out of the need to restrategise and undertake enforcement in a more civilised manner as dictated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. He added that the nature of enforcement required that “we have broad database to ensure compliance and enhance the capacity of government to enforce.”
According to Elegusi, the era of impunity and crime enhanced and facilitated by okada riders were over as government would enforce the law to the letter.
His words: “It is not uncommon to hear from the media or read report from the Nigeria Police about criminals using Okada as get away. So also we have reported incidences of okada being used as instances of kidnap. Any responsible government must then act promptly in this regard. This is why we are taking this step.
“Against this background, we are left with little or no choice than to restart enforcement. This, we will do in association in all unions involved. We will set up joint enforcement teams to ensure that we get rid of this menace.”
He advised all enforcement agencies in the state -Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS,) taskforce and the Nigeria police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes.
Speaking, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde said government would not want to see okada riders plying the state’s highways again as “the law enforcement agents would descend heavily on them.”
He said out of the 9,000 roads in Lagos, okada riders were only restricted from plying 475 roads, while they could ply the rest.
A representative of the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Imohim Edgal said all Lagos Police Area Commands had been directed to enforce aggressively the restriction on okada riders from the restricted places.