Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Task Force has gone after operators of commercial motorcycles ‘Gokada’ and ‘Maxokada’ who ply restricted routes in the state.
The agency has arrested 23 operators and impounded 10 motorcycles for plying restricted routes.
The agency has, therefore, warned that it would henceforth go after operators of commercial motorcycles who fail to comply with the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.
Task force chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, during enforcement of the law against motorcyclists operating on restricted routes, including Ikeja, Ojota, and Maryland, said the agency would not fold its arms and watch the recklessness of commercial motorcycle operators.
CSP Egbeyemi said that out of 115 motorcycles impounded during the enforcement operations, 22 were branded commercial ‘Gokada’ and ‘Maxokada.’
He said the operation of the newly branded commercial motorcycles was illegal as they operate without valid documents from the state government. He said that, in accordance with the law, no commercial motorcycle operator is allowed to operate on 475 restricted routes, including highways and bridges across the state.
Egbeyemi, in a statement signed by the head of public affairs of the task force, Mr. Toafik Adebayo, stated that, “The government has advised members of the public to, henceforth, desist from patronising commercial motorcyclists on all restricted routes as passengers are also liable to prosecution.
“It is disheartening to see operators of these newly branded commercial motorcycles, Gokada and Maxokada, struggling for the right of way with motorists on highways and bridges across the state.
“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, has directed that the 10 arrested riders be immediately charged to court.
“One of the arrested ‘Gokada’ riders, Mr. Francis, claimed that riders pay N3,000 per day to the authorities, but said the riders were not aware of any documentation with the government. He said they thought the authorities had done necessary documentation with appropriate quarters before handing over the motorcycles to them.”
Another rider, Adeniran, said he collected his ‘Maxokada’ on hire-purchase from the management of the company, thinking that the owner would have done proper documentation with the state government.