Follow Us on Google
By Lukman Olabiyi and Semilore Alade
From September 1, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed enforcement teams to fully implement the proscription order placed on the activities of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, and bust any of them that errs across the councils listed.
However, considering previous declarations on okada ban in the state by two previous administrations, coupled with the general election that is around the corner, many people in Lagos and stakeholders doubt Sanwo-Olu’s ability and political will to stand his ground on the enforcement.
Many have also stated that, with the huge influence of transport union leaders on the political structure of the state and their relationship with the ruling party, the governor’s announcement would amount to mere political statement without effect.
On August 18, 2022, the state government extended the ban on commercial motorcycles to four more local governments areas (LGAs) and five local council development areas (LCDAs). And the latest pronouncement came about three months after the governor had earlier ordered a total restriction on okada in six LGAs: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Apapa, as well as LCDAs under them. The latest order on the operations of the commercial motorcyclists affects the following LGAs: Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu and Mushin, and LCDAs: Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo.
This makes it 25 councils out of the 57 councils in which okada activities have been banned.
Daily Sun spoke with Lagos residents who rely mainly on okada as a means of transportation, as well as operators who were affected by the government policy, their union leaders and stakeholders.
Titilayo, a make-up artist, resident in Mushin, Lagos, expressed mixed feelings over the policy.
“Considering the havoc being caused by okada riders and the issue of security, I felt very happy over the proscription of their activities because I am a victim of their wrong doings.
“But at the same time, I have also benefited immensely from this means of transportation. With okada, I can do home service for three to five clients in different locations in one day. It makes my movement easy without considering the issue of gridlock in any area,” she said.
When asked how she is going to cope without okada, Titi said she had no choice than to adjust to reality. According to her, there are other means of transportation, which she could still make do with in her daily routine.
A commercial motorcyclist, Ibrahim, who is a northerner and operates within Somolu, said he has no choice than to comply with government’s directive.
Ibrahim disclosed that before September 1, he would move to a new area in the state to continue his okada business.
A colleague to Ibrahim, Aminu, also shared a similar view, saying he would probably move to other locations since they could not operate again in Somolu and its environs.
However, some of the operators did not accept the government’s position on their activities in listed areas. To express their feelings, they staged a peaceful protest on August 29 at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja.
Some of the protesters who were demanding a reverse of the ban by the state government, wore branded T-shirts and caps of the ruling party.
According to the aggrieved okada riders, the decision of the government to ban okada in the affected areas, which they projected could lead to a total ban in the entire state by December, did not come at the right time, considering the poor state of the nation’s economy.
This was just as they noted that, should the ban remain in place, crime rate could increase as many could be forced into crime due to lack of legitimate alternatives to fend for their families
One of the leaders of the okada riders’ union who led the protest, Adeleke Adegboyega, aka Big Boss, who is Zone S chairman in charge of Kosofe, said they came to plead with Sanwo-Olu to reconsider his decision on the ban of okada because the situation in the country does not support the decision.
Adegboyega said, with the latest ban, more than 20,000 okada riders would be affected, noting that, on average, an operator had a minimum of 10 family members to cater for, wondering what would become of such persons thereafter.
“We are pleading with the government to have a rethink on the ban; those who are doing legitimate business would not commit crime, we are not criminals.
“Government should not allow people to go into crime. If you ask that they (okada riders) should stop doing their business, people would go into crime. Crimes are not committed alone with okada. Look at the issue of the train attack in Kaduna, they were not committed by those who are legitimately engaged in the okada business,” he said.
Azeez Ayorinde, chairman, Zone H, who also spoke with our correspondent, called on Sanwo-Olu to come to their rescue, noting that banning okada business in the state would have multiplier effects on the masses.
According to him, it was not only the riders that would be affected but also those who deal in spare parts, the mechanics and the food sellers, among others, would also suffer for lack of patronages.
He said: “There is no employment anywhere now. Those who are into okada business went into it because there is no other business for them.”
Ayinde further said his unit had also been involved in sanitizing the business by ensuring enforcement on the highways, but quickly noted that some uniformed men were often found to be violating the state’s traffic law in that respect.
“We are not in support of crimes. We are pleading with Governor Sanwo-Olu, he should temper justice with mercy.
“We know ourselves. We are not criminals. I have my children in school; if they stop okada business, my children will stop schooling. I don’t want my children to turn to labourers,” he said.
He added they came on a peaceful protest because no leader at the top hierarchy of the union was ready to speak for them and let the government know the problems they were passing through.
Another union leader, Abiodun Ibrahim, chairman, Zone N, covering Mile 2 down to Ibeju-Lekki, said, given the systematic approach adopted by the state government on the ban issue, there could be total ban across in all the nooks and crannies of Lagos by December this year.
According to him, this could lead to idle hands, and it was for this reason that the state government should reconsider its decision.
“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop, that’s the saying. That’s the major reason government has to come to our aid. We are not happy with the situation. Let the government come to our help,” he said.
While announcing the ban on okada, commissioner for transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde, said the extension of the order was a move by the state government to sustain the gains recorded in the ongoing action against their operations in the state.
The commissioner said okada accidents and fatalities had reduced by 63.7 per cent across the 15 councils where the first phase of the ban had been enforced, stressing that the development also significantly brought down the rate of crime associated with motorcycles.
This, Oladehinde said, led to resolutions reached at a forum held recently with interest groups in which the participants unanimously urged the government to make the okada ban state-wide.
The state government advised residents to embrace alternative means of transportation for their commute, noting that the state had provided safe and sustainable First- and Last-Mile transport scheme, BRT scheme, e-hailing taxi scheme and other acceptable means for the safety of commuters.
Oladehinde disclosed that 7,500 motorcycles had been impounded and crushed in the ongoing enforcement, while resistance had dropped sharply. He issued a warning to riders who may want to flout the proscription order, stressing that the enforcement would not be sparing.
The commissioner said the state government has interventions in place to empower affected okada riders as an alternative means of livelihood. He urged them to embrace the intervention programmes, which are being coordinated by six government ministries and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF).
He said: “It is important to reiterate the state government’s commitment to the safety, security of lives and properties in the state. In exercising this, any motorcycle impounded will be crushed and the process will be made public.
“Both riders and passengers arrested on proscribed routes will be made to face the full wrath of the law in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.”
