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Banning Okada, Tricycle in Lagos is Evil – NANS

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Lagos State Babajide Sanwo Olu
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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. push({}); googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">

“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.

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“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!

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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.

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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

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Abdulrahman Obaje
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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Another Massive Plan By APC To Rig Kogi Election Uncovered!

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Massive Plan To Rig Kogi Election Uncovered
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Another massive plan by the APC (All Progressive Congress) to rig the upcoming election in Kogi State has been uncovered.

The plan was uncovered in an audio recording recorded in Igala language, that is widely circulated and received by the Informavores!

The message roughly translated is as follows:

“I thank you all and may the almighty God bless us all. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I am here to talk to you this evening amd thank you for all your efforts as you are listening to me from where ever you are listening to me, please forward this message so that every igala will hear what I am saying this evening.”

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“As I am talking to you, it is not up to 2 minutes that I finished calling to Ankpa. It is a calling between me and the coordinator. He said that what he wanted to tell me before I called him is that the presiding officers this afternoon hinted him and that he is going to confide in me that everybody should be ready.”

“That during the upcoming voting, their plan is that they would just thumb print without capturing, therefore, when the voting is in excess without capturing(photograph), they would then cancel the polling unit. That is what he just told me. And I said I would make sure that this information is circulated among everybody online this night.”

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“It is the Presiding officer that told him this afternoon and he is relaying it to me to make sure that I tell everybody that this is the plan of APC in Ankpa where they are going to vote in Ankpa. That they will photograph, so that all the votings in Ankpa will not count.”

“This is the message that reached me this night and I said I would tell people on air. Please forward this message so that everybody would here. Let us be at alert and make sure that our votes count, let us monitor the BVAS. “

“Thank you all and God bless you all.”, it concluded.

Off season elections is scheduled to take place in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States. Coming November 11th, 2023. 

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Find the audio recording below.

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NGIJ Mourn Demise Of Tukuwei Perry, Says Journalist Death A Great Loss

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Tukuwei Perry Tobi.
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Foremost Investigative Group, the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, is saddened with the sudden demise of one of its member, Peremobewei Tobi Tukuwei Jnr, who lost his life in a tragic Boat Mishap that occurred in Nembe Local Government Area of the Bayelsa state on Wednesday 25 October 2023. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The Bayelsa State born Tukuwei was a Staff of DAAR Communications and also Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council in Bayelsa State.

Tukuwei was declared missing after the tragic incident occurred while he and two other journalists were travelling from Nembe Town to Okoroba Community in Nembe for the party’s governorship campaign.

According to eyewitness accounts, the driver of the speedboat in which they were travelling lost control as a result of turbulence created by waves and capsized at about 1 pm along the Nembe Creek leading to Okoroba.

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In a Statement by NGIJ President, Ayoyemi Mojoyinola, as regards the death of the promising Broadcast Journalist who died in his prime,he said that his death is a great loss to the Nigeria Media Space, Bayelsa State and NGIJ as a body.

He said his selfless service, determination, charisma, urbane and discharge of duties stood him out of the crowd and among his contemporaries.

His loss he said is so painful, but stressed that God Almighty does what pleases him.

“Death is a companion of the living which we will all embrace one day, we are just pained by his sudden demise.

“We pray that God in his infinite mercy will give his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

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Tukuwei hails from Toru-Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, was appointed Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign Council in Bayelsa Date early October.

He was a media and communications expert, and an alumnus of the School of Politics, Politics and Governance.

He was also a BBC-trained journalist who won the Best on Air Personality, Best Television Presenter in the Niger Delta as well as Bayelsa’s Best Journalist of the Year five years in a row from 2015-2020.

He was also a one-time acting Head of Programmes Raypower FM Yenagoa before he was elevated to the national network in Abuja becoming a co-anchor of one of AIT’s breakfast programme, ‘Kaakaki’.

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Abdulrahman Obaje
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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Insecurity: Gombe Governor Orders Immediate Closure Of All Gala Houses In The State

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Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
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The Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON has ordered the immediate closure of all ‘Gala Houses’ within the State.

This is contained in a statement issues and signed by the Director General press Affairs Government House Isma’ila Uba Misilli, through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, stating that the governor gives the directives following the series of complaints from the general public on the incessant immoral, criminal activities and security breaches being perpetrated in such night clubs.

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According to the statement, the Governor has, consequently, ordered the the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Operation Hattara to mobilise their personnel to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

He therefore said for the avoidance of doubt, the affected Gala Houses are: Jami’a Gidan Wanka located at Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe, White House Theatre (Babban Gida) located at New Mile 3 Yola Road, Gombe; Gidan Lokaci General Merchant located at Mile 3 Reservoir Road, Gombe and Farin Gida Entertainment II located at Wuro Karal, Kalshingi Road, Gombe.

Others are: Gidan Zamani Entertainment New Mile 3, Yola Road, Tumfure, Gombe; Albarka Entertainment Located at Wuro Karal, Bypass near Hara Form, Gombe; Gala Houses Located at Kuri Town, Lubo village and Kurba village all in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.

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Also affected are Tauraren Wash located at Trailer Park, Bauchi Road, Gombe and Gala House located at Bajoga Town in Funakaye Local Government Area.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje
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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