CITIZENS COMPASS —Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce), has impounded 344 motorcycles popularly known as Okada even as it vowed to cripple their activities in the State.
Giving the breakdown of how the bikes were impounded, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director, Press & Public Affairs which reads, in a statement said the operations led by the Chairman of the Agency, Shola Jejeloye took place at Abule – Ado, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos Island and Abule-Egba axis.
He said the Agency embarked on a week-long raids of the areas.
He said their activities along some highways in the State has continually put the life of commutters along the axis at risk.
It reads, “We have taken it upon ourselves to end okada operations in the State and we are putting all mechanisms in place to ensure we achieve this goal. There is a ban on their activities along selected routes and Local Governments in Lagos therefore they should not be allowed to operate as they please. ”
Jejeloye stated that the raid in Abule Ado axis saw them impound 174 bikes, Lagos Island 50 bikes,Berger/ Grammar School 50 bikes while 70 bikes were impounded in Abule Egba axis.
He sounded a note of warning to uniform men and urged them to obey extant rules and regulation of the State regarding okada operation or be prosecuted.
“There will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of okada operations in the State therefore any uniform man caught conveying passengers on a bike for commercial purposes will be thoroughly dealt with. We should be the ones setting the right examples, not breaking them. It will no longer be business as usual”. Jejeloye stated.
“The Chairman further stated that the stubborn okada operators should not test the might for enforcement compliance of the Agency as it is more determined than ever to eradicate their activities for good. Any operator found wanting will be severely dealt with according to the laws of the State.
“It is our resolve in Y2024 to ensure that the terminal end of every enforcement is the court, therefore, the fixed mindset of all environmental and traffic violators who think they can get away with every infraction through “man knows man” or godfatherism will not be tolerated. Enough is enough”
CSP Jejeloye enjoined Lagosians to work together with the State Government and her Agencies in ensuring that mischief makers do not derail the vision and mission of the State Government as enshrined in the THEMES PLUS agenda of the present administration. He appealed to well meaning residents to desist from patronising okada operators in order to make our roads safe, hazard free ahd motorable for all.
