Residents of Lekki Phase One under the aegis of Lekki Phase One Residents Association (LERA), have appealed to the Lagos State government commence enforcement of the ban on Okada operation without waiting for the June 1 effective date.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Wednesday announced the ban on Okada operations in six local government areas of the State.
The affected local councils are Apapa, Eit-Osa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Surulere.
But LERA, at a news conference on Thursday after some residents protested publicly against the menace that Okada riders pose to their lives, urged the government to begin enforcement of the ban without delay.
During the protest, the residents displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘Lekki Phase 1 says No to Okada’; ‘Let’s take back Lekki Phase 1’.
They were reacting to a recent incident that occurred in Admiralty area of Lekki, where the death of a sound engineer identified simply as David on May 12, was linked to some suspected commercial motorcyclists.
The Chairman of LERA, Mr. Yomi Idowu, at the news conference, emphasized the need for immediate enforcement of the ban.
“We sincerely appreciate and thank the Lagos State government for being proactive and taking a stand on the total ban of ‘Okadas’.
“The government has called for the ban from June 1, but we the residents of Lekki Phase 1, cannot risk the lives of all her residents and have Okadas running freely in our neighbourhood.
“If you recall, the State government had called for the ban on commercial motorcyclists two years ago, but to our chagrin, it was not properly enforced, and soon the menace returned.
“We are, therefore, taking proactive measures and are calling for this ban to commence with immediate effect; we choose to live and say no to okadas on our roads and streets’’, he said.
The chairman said that the association would take every step to ensure that the ggovernment law banning okadas from the roads was fully respected and strictly adhered to by all residents.
He stressed the importance of street gates, appealing to the Ministry of Transportation to work with the association in order to maintain, erect and sustain them, for the safety of the residents.
“We also call upon the Ministry of Physical Planning and New Towns Development Authority to carry out raids on incomplete buildings to flush out hoodlums and miscreants that use these places as hideouts,” Idowu said.
The chairman said that security was very important in the society.
“Our lives matter, and we will continue to do our utmost best to ensure the lives and properties of our residents are protected,” he said.