The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) said restricting tricycle and motorcycle from plying certain areas in Lagos State is evil.

This is contained in a statement widely circulated and received by Informavores!

The statement read, “We read with disappointment the order by the Lagos State Government restricting tricycle and motorcycle from plying certain areas in the State and, after thorough and critical analysis of the policy, we make bold to assert that it is evil and it would help strengthen crime, joblessness and corruption in the society.

“We remind the public that this is the umpteenth time that the Lagos State Government is banning Okada and tricycle citing closely but different reasons. These reasons in all sincerity really lack genuinty as these same okada are allowed close to elections to the extent that politician share it to young unemployed graduates in their constituency as means of empowerment.

“Also, it is pure irresponsibility for a government to ban peoples’ jobs and not create another in replacement. What has Governor Sanwo-Olu done as policy to replace the okada? If government cannot provide jobs, is it not political insanity to ban jobs. We are reminded of the Yoruba saying that “an Oracle that couldn’t save or uplift should at least leave us the way we are.”

Let it be known that the rationale given by the State Government for the introduction and enforcement of this policy that motorcycle is being used by criminals to perpetuate crime is ill-conceived and not well-thought. The reality is that one is more likely to be kidnapped with a car than with a bike and armed robbers are more likely to use a car than a bike.

“Also, it is the lack of real social infrastructures that is causing crime, not okada. We need to ask the Lagos State Government how many jobs they have created in the past two years? We need to also ask Governor Sanwo-Olu why Lagos State since 1999 never had any new higher institution: the worst record in the South West. Not even a new Technical College! Instead of Governor Sanwo-Olu to face the real issues causing crimes, all he does is to follow, like others before him, that cruel ritual of blaming the victims for the woes inflicted from the top. Nigerian students have had enough.

“In fact, if something aiding another thing is a ground to cancel it, the question now is, why not scrap the State House of Assembly and Senate because they aid wastage of money? Another angle is that many places that the Lagos State Government have deem it fit to ban okada are not motorable while some are not routes of commercial buses. Bikes and keke are the only option. We make bold to assert that the government cannot just wake up to place a ban on motorcycle if they have not provided alternatives as is the situation today. This means the people should be suffering while the governor and his cronies fly helicopters all around.

It is on record that Opay and the likes are registered as a corporate body with the government and they pay tax and it was this same government that gave them license to operate. Now if the government is now banning okada, this automatically means that it discourages people from investing in our economy so far the government can wake up and spoil the investment with an ill-conceived policy.”

The statement thereby gave 10 days ultimatum to the state government to revert the policy.

“We demand that Governor Sanwo-Olu halt the ban on okada and face the real issues as we have raised.

“We therefore reiterate that the Lagos State Government should;
*Lift the ill-conceived and irresponsible ban on okada NOW.
*Provide mass employment to Lagosians by creating real transportation like water, rail, and others for the mass of the people.
*Start a real intra-road networking that will ease the sufferings of Lagosians instead of all the massive bad roads that litter everywhere from Obalende to Alimosho.
*Stop undemocratic policies that is not congressional and is quite disastrous. Many lives were destroyed in the old bans on okada. This only increases poverty, crime and unemployment.

*Lagos State must create new tertiary schools from Technical Colleges to Universities. It is a shame that the richest State in Nigeria have no new institutions since the birth of democracy in 1999 and the existing ones are not being properly funded.

“By this statement, the students of Southwestern Nigeria is giving the Lagos State Government 10 working days to lift the ban on okada, negotiate with the Okada Unions and apologise to Lagosians for the inconveniences.

“In all, we call on all student to know that many Okada riders are graduates fending for themselves because of the irresponsibility of successive government. Hence, such jobs for survival must not be criminalized while we demand living jobs with living wages for all!

Lagos State Government on Monday wielded the big stick against the menace of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke NAPEP), proscribing their operations in six Local Government Areas (LGAs), nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 10 major highways across the State with effect from February 1.

The State Government directed security operatives to embark on a total enforcement of the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 to immediately address the chaos and disorderliness created by illegal operations of Okada and tricycle riders in restricted areas.

Besides, the Government also banned Okada and tricycles from plying 40 bridges and flyovers across the State.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who made the announcement at the State House in Alausa, said the measures were taken by the Government in response to “scary figures” of fatal accidents recorded from operations of Okada and tricycles in the State between 2016 and 2019.

Mr. Omotoso said the lack of regard for the Lagos Traffic Laws by the Okada and tricycle riders had resulted in preventable loss of lives, adding that their impermissible movements on restricted highways had also contributed to traffic jams.

He said: “After a robust assessment of the debate on what has been widely referred to as the motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) menace, the Lagos State Government and the State Security Council have decided that the security and safety of lives of Lagosians are paramount.

“The figures are scary. From 2016 to 2019, there were over 10,000 accidents recorded at the General Hospitals alone. This number excludes unreported cases and those recorded by other hospitals. The total number of deaths from reported cases is over 600 as at date.

“Also, the rate of crimes aided by Okada and Keke keeps rising. They are also used as getaway means by criminals. Therefore, after consultations with stakeholders, the State Security Council, in compliance with the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, has decided to commence enforcement of the law which bans the operation of Okada and Keke in six Local Government Areas and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).”

Omotoso said the enforcement would be total, warning that the Government would deal with violators in accordance with the Laws. He added that there would be zero tolerance for the movement of the banned vehicles on the listed highways and bridges.

According to the Commissioner, operations of Okada and Keke NAPEP have been banned in the following LGAs and LCDAs: Apapa LGA, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, and Coker-Aguda LCDA.

Others are Ikeja LGA, Onigbongbo, LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, Eti-Osa LGA, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, and Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Lagos Island LGA and Lagos Island East LCDA.

The Okada and Keke NAPEP are restricted on the following highways and bridges:

Major Highways

1. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
2. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway
3. Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway
4. Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway
5. Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway
6. Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway
7. Lagos-Badagry Expressway
8. Funsho Williams Avenue
9. Agege Motor Road
10. Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road

Bridges

1. Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege
2. Dopemu Bridge Agege
3. Airport/Ikeja Bridge
4. Agege Motor road/oshodi Loop, Oshodi
5. Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge
6. Dorman Long Bridge
7. Ojuelegba Bridge
8. National Stadium Flyover
9. Apapa-Iganmu Bridge
10. Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge
11. Liverpool Bridge, Apapa
12. Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin
13. Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge
14. Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network
15. Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge
16. Trade Fair Flyover Bridge
17. Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge
18. 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road
19. Ojota Clover leaf Bridge
20. Ogudu Bridge
21. 3rd Mainland Bridge
22. Maryland flyover
23. Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge
24. Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja
25. Opebi Link Bridge
26. Sheraton-Opebi Bridge
27. Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge
28. Carter Bridge, Lagos
29. Bariga-Ifako Bridge
30. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge
31. Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge
32. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn
33. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway
34. 3rd Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge
35. Eko Bridge
36. Apongbon flyover Bridge
37. Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess)
38. Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp)
39. Marina/Ikoyi Bridge
40. Ikoyi/Obalende Bridge

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje

Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.

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