June 1 deadline won’t stop clampdown on Okada operators, says LASG
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho said the state government would continue to seize Okada in the state who violate the law despite the June 1 deadline given the operators to vacate come local governments completely.
Omotosho made this known in a statement on Thursday, noting that the total ban placed on the operation of the riders in six local governments of Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere won’t stop the clampdown on them in other parts of the state.
He said: “The deadline does not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that ‘no persons shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the State, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offence’ and will be made to face the wrath of the law.
“The Lagos State Task Force, led by CSP Shola Jejeloye, has continued to enforce the law. It seized 238 motorcycles in Lekki on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Iba on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where it was violently resisted today, the Task Force seized many motorcycles. The riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they are free to ply unauthorised routes till June 1. This is wrong. The February 1, 2020, directive has not been reversed. The enforcement was weakened by COVID-19, which affected all areas of life. Now, the action is being reinforced.”
Omotosho further stated that commercial motorcycles (Okada) are also banned on all major highways, such as; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonsoki-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, Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege/Dopemu Bridge, Airport/Ikeja Bridge, Agege Motor Road/Oshodi Loop, Oshodi, Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge, Dorman Long Bridge.
Also included are; 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, Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road, Ojota Clover Leaf Bridge, Ogudu Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Maryland Flyover, Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge.
Others are; 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, Third Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge, Eko Bridge and Apongbon Bridge.
Omotosho expressed gratitude to Lagosians who have come out to support the ban in the six local government areas, which Governor Sanwo-Olu has described as the “first phase” of the action, that has been triggered by safety and security concerns.
