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Banning Okada, Tricycle in Lagos is Evil – NANS
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
- Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
- Apapa-Oshodi Expressway
- Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway
- Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway
- Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway
- Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway
- Lagos-Badagry Expressway
- Funsho Williams Avenue
- Agege Motor Road
- Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road
Bridges
- Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege
- Dopemu Bridge Agege
- Airport/Ikeja Bridge
- Agege Motor road/oshodi Loop, Oshodi
- Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge
- Dorman Long Bridge
- Ojuelegba Bridge
- National Stadium Flyover
- Apapa-Iganmu Bridge
- Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge
- Liverpool Bridge, Apapa
- Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin
- Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge
- Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network
- Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge
- Trade Fair Flyover Bridge
- Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge
- 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road
- Ojota Clover leaf Bridge
- Ogudu Bridge
- 3rd Mainland Bridge
- Maryland flyover
- Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge
- Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja
- Opebi Link Bridge
- Sheraton-Opebi Bridge
- Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge
- Carter Bridge, Lagos
- Bariga-Ifako Bridge
- Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge
- Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge
- Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn
- Apapa-Oshodi Expressway
- 3rd Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge
- Eko Bridge
- Apongbon flyover Bridge
- Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess)
- Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp)
- Marina/Ikoyi Bridge
- Ikoyi/Obalende Bridge
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- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is 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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I will not be intimidated by any military – Wike
By Wumi Tewogbade (rtd), Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT)Minister Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, said he will not be intimidated or blackmailed by any military personnel from doing his job.
Wike stated this when he went on an unscheduled visit on a plot of land that was allegedly being illegally developed in Gaduwa, Abuja.
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According to the Minister, he had earlier instructed the Director Development Control, Muktir Galadima, to go and demolish an alleged illegal development ongoing in plot 1946, Gaduwa district, Abuja, owned by the former Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Awaul Zubairu Gambo.
But when the staff of Development control got to the property to effect the directive of the FCT Minister, they were forcefully driven out of the property by security acting on the former Chief of Naval staff, directives.
So the Director of Development control went to report back to the FCT Minister, who immediately came to see what was going on.
Wike while speaking to journalists said, “You are aware that the land departments and the development control have been mandated to see where the illegal development is going on and land grabbing. And when this was brought to my attention, I did instruct them to make sure that nothing takes place in as much as they did not have any legal paper in terms of regional approval or even the acquisition of the land. And when they came here, I was informed that the soldiers of the former Naval Chief, chase them away and I thought probably they would be acting illegally.
“And so today while I was in the office, while they came to implement the directive that was given to them by myself, I was called that the military have taken over the place and I have to come by myself to see things for myself. It’s really unfortunate. And you heard what the officers said, he was sent by the former chief of Naval Staff”.
The FCT Minister noted that the Naval Chief, should have approached him for discussion instead of taking law into his hands, “And I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position and he said that he has a problem cannot approach my office to say, look, this is what is going on, this is what is going on. But simply because he’s a military man, he could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those kind of persons that will succumb to blackmail or intimidation”.
He said there is no documents to prove, the Former Chief of Naval staff is actually the owner of the property in question.
“And where are the documents. And the Director of Development Control said, look, I was here. I said bring the documents, you don’t have the documents.
“Bring the approval for building, you don’t have it. And how can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail in this country? What about those who don’t have the military? What about those who don’t have security? It has gotten to a level where when government officials are doing, carrying out their job, you go and bring security to intimidate them. And this government official, I will not accept that”.
He said, “I’ve spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and I’ve spoken to the Chief of Naval Staff and they have assured me that, please, they have to resolve the matter. And we’re not coming here to have a shootout with anybody to cause chaos and all. But what I can say, I would not allow it to happen.
“The way we have done and carried out our jobs in other areas is the same way it will be done here. We will not allow this illegal development, simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I would not allow that”.
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Digital Economy and eGovernance: Stakeholders Endorse Bill, Demand Institutional Role Definition
By AbdulRahman Obaje
Stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital and technology ecosystem have expressed support for the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, describing it as a vital step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework that will strengthen digital governance, boost innovation, and accelerate socio-economic development.
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However, they urged the National Assembly to address potential overlaps between the proposed law and the mandates of existing agencies to prevent institutional conflict and regulatory burden.
The submissions were made on Monday during a Public Hearing convened by the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on ICT, Cybersecurity, Digital and Information Technology at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Among groups that presented their position was the Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR), which commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and federal lawmakers for the initiative.
Presenting NADIR’s memorandum, its Legal Adviser, Barrister Yunus AbdulSalam (SAN), said the Bill represents a significant legislative intervention aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s digital governance ecosystem and regulating emerging technologies. He, however, cautioned that certain provisions appear to replicate functions already assigned to agencies such as NITDA, NCC, and NDPC.
Such duplication, he warned, could “trigger constitutional and institutional disputes, raise compliance costs, and discourage private sector participation and investment.”
He recommended that the National Assembly adopt a “consolidation and amendment approach,” extracting the Bill’s innovative elements and integrating them into the existing Act, rather than creating new regulatory overlaps.
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the Bill would enhance Nigeria’s digital competitiveness, strengthen e-governance service delivery, improve transparency, and boost the ease of doing business, particularly in the ICT sector.
He noted that the digital economy currently contributes about 20 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, adding that the passage of the Bill would unlock greater opportunities for job creation, innovation, and revenue growth.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Honourable Adedeji Stanley Olajide, said the engagement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to building a transparent and innovation-driven governance structure. He emphasized that collaboration among lawmakers, regulators, and industry players marked “a new phase in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, lauded the National Assembly for advancing the Bill and assured that stakeholder concerns would be considered to guarantee a balanced outcome. He said the proposed framework seeks to enable seamless data sharing across government institutions and foster stronger synergy with the private sector.
He also highlighted the Bill’s provisions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing AI as a strategic tool that could enhance Nigeria’s productivity and global digital competitiveness.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stressed that Nigeria must adopt a modern digital legal framework to benefit from ongoing global technological shifts. He cited the application of AI in agriculture for real-time access to data on best practices, weather patterns, and input quality as an example of the potential impact on food security.
Stakeholders present at the hearing included the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), among others.
Declaring the hearing open, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, described the Bill as a bold step toward aligning Nigeria’s governance and economic policies with global digital realities.
The Bill, if passed into law, is expected to play a transformational role in Nigeria’s digital economy comparable to the telecommunications liberalization policy of 2001.
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Igala Nation Backs Ododo/Tinubu 8 Years Mandate
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo, has reaffirmed the unity and firm support of the Igala nation for the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, declaring that the governor’s eight-year tenure is sacrosanct and backed by the people of Kogi East.
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Comrade Joel Salifu made the declaration at the 2025 Kabba Day Celebration.
The Deputy Governor who represented his boss at the occasion stated:
“I want to categorically tell you that I am an Igala by tribe and from Kogi East. By the grace of God, I am a leader of the Kogi East APC. There is no other person that can deliver the voice of the people of Kogi East apart from Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and my humble self.”
He stressed that the current administration remains united and resolute in delivering good governance, warning against divisive politics or misinformation.
“If there’s anybody, let them not talk from behind. Whatever message they have, let them not come to confuse you. In this government, I am the leader and voice of the Igala people, and what I will tell you is nothing but the truth; Ododo’s eight years in office is sacrosanct,” he said.
The Deputy Governor further disclosed that the entire Igala nation has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for their continued leadership, stressing that the people of Kogi East are united behind their vision of renewed hope, and transformational leadership.
“All the Igalas have resolved, united, and have endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Ododo for their second term of eight years in office, to enable them continue the good works they are doing,” he declared.
Turning to the traditional rulers, Comrade Joel Salifu commended the Okun people for their intellectual strength and political maturity.
“My dear people of Okun nation, I know you for being focused, determined, and very intelligent, having produced the largest number of Professors in the state. With that record, nobody should deceive you because of their selfish political interest. Continue to disappoint them,” he urged.
The brief remark was received with cheers, showing the growing rapport between Kogi East and Kogi West senatorial district under the leadership of Governor Ododo, a synergy rooted in unity and collective progress of the state.
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