The Lagos State government, on Monday, crushed about 1,500 motorcycles (Okada) seized from operators who reportedly violated the State’s traffic laws.
Lagos is Nigeria’s economic hub and arguably the most populated State. But the population comes with some daunting challenges such as traffic congestion and shortage of means of public transportation.
As a result, thousands of motorcycles are deployed on the roads by the unemployed for commercial purposes, bridging the gaps in public transportation and earning some income for themselves and their dependents.
However, the government via The Lagos Traffic Laws 2012 (subsequently reviewed in 2018), banned their operations in the urbanised areas of the state, and put in place a task force to monitor and enforce the ban, citing unruly operations and incessant accidents.
Curiously, some of the operators got their Okadas from politicians as empowerment for political support and patronage.
According to the government, the crushed 1,500 motorcycles were seized for violating the ban on their operations in 10 local government areas and 15 local council development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos.
The affected councils include Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, and Eti-Osa.
The LCDAs are Ojodu, Onigbongbo, Lagos Island East, Yaba and Coker-Aguda, with others as Itire-Ikate, Eti-Osa West, Iru Victoria Island, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ikosi-Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu, Isolo, Ejigbo, Bariga and Odi-Olowo.
The Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi, speaking at the crushing site in Ikeja, restated the government’s resolve to the safety and security of lives and property in Lagos.
Osiyemi said: ‘This exercise shows that the government is not rescinding its decision to apprehend, impound, and crush recalcitrant motorcycles plying the restricted areas.
He noted that the regular crushing exercise was to warn Okada operators and passengers to stay off the ban areas to avoid three years imprisonment if caught and prosecuted in line with the Transport Reform Law, (TSRL) 2018.
“The ban on Okada in specified regions is crucial for maintaining order, reducing risks associated with unauthorised motorcycle operation, and also improving security,” Osiyemi added.