* As LASTMA seizes 488 vehicles violating Lagos BRT lanes
Some Okada riders in Garin Iliya village, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, who have spent years traveling to Lagos and Abuja in search of better jobs, have waved goodbye to the chaotic city life.
Some of the Okada riders disclosed this on Sunday after receiving NG-CARES results area 2 (FADAMA Support) in Taura LGA.
For years, according to them, youth in the village had little choice but to leave their families and community behind in search of greener pasture in the distant cities.
Malam Ibrahim said he worked as an Okada rider for years passing through risk of accidents, police harassment, maltreatment and other dangers associated with riding motorcycles in urban areas.
Ibrahim said: “Riding an okada in those cities is not easy. The police would stop us frequently, sometimes seizing our bikes. There were too many risks, and I was always away from my family.
“I was given water pump machine under Jigawa FADAMA CARES and I will be using it to start irrigation farming.
“With this, I can now farm all year round, not just during the rainy season. What I will be making from my farm will be far better than what I was earning in Lagos or Abuja.”
Another beneficiary, Musa, said that the new source of income (irrigation farming) will provide a sustainable and secure future for his family.
“I’m done with the city. I’ll be staying here, farming and living a happy life with my family,” Musa noted.
The State Programme Coordinator of Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Umar Idris, said the project’s aim is to support vulnerable households and small-scale farmers.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 488 vehicles for illegally plying the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane over the past seven months.
According to the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the seizures occurred between January and August 2024.
Taofiq reiterated the Lagos State government’s warning to both private and commercial motorists to desist from infringing upon BRT lanes across the State.
“This directive comes following the impoundment of over 488 vehicles by LASTMA for violating BRT lane regulations during this period. All offenders have been prosecuted in the Lagos State Mobile Court,” Taofiq stated.
He specifically highlighted the Abule-Egba BRT corridor, urging motorists using that route to refrain from further violations.
He said: “The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has recently completed road rehabilitation from Abule-Egba to Iyana-Ipaja, including areas near ‘Super Ile-Epo’ and ‘Katangura Market.’
The improved road conditions make illegal use of the BRT lane unnecessary and indefensible.
“Motorists traveling through Abule-Egba, Iyana-Ipaja, Dopemu, and Oshodi are reminded to strictly adhere to designated lanes, with the government warning that any further encroachment on BRT lanes will lead to prosecution in the Lagos State Mobile Court.
“The Lagos State Government remains committed to providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for the benefit of all residents. However, road users must exercise discipline and patience to foster a safer, more efficient traffic system.”
The 488 vehicles were impounded at key locations across Lagos, including Ikorodu, Maryland, Anthony, Apongbon, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ojuelegba, and Oyingbo.