LAGOS State Government on Wednesday, appealed to residents to patronize alternative modes of transportation in the state following the ban on commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, in six Local Government Areas and nine Local Council Development Areas, LGAs/LCDAs of the state.
While, urging operators and residents to fully comply with the order, government reiterated that the ban was taken to ensure security and safety of residents.
The state government had on Wednesday, June 1, commenced full enforcement on the ban which recorded high level of compliance across the metropolis.
State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made the remarks, while speaking on the development during a television programme.
According to him: “During the first quarter of this year, the record shows that over 1,712 accidents were recorded, with okada constituting 767 or 45 percent of them.
Of all the victims, 54 per cent are between 30 and 39 years old; our young people.”
He reiterated that during the meeting with Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, Area Commanders and the Commissioner of Police, Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu handed down the explicit instruction of ensuring effective enforcement of the ban.
Giving details about plans for an effective clampdown on okada, the Commissioner said: “I want to assure Lagosians that the security agents will do the right thing when enforcing the ban and carry out the exercise in a professional manner because the ban is people-driven.
“The local governments are involved; community development associations are involved; everyone is involved in taking back our state from the tyranny of okada.”
On alternatives to okada, Omotoso said the state government launched over 500 First and Last Mile buses while 200 have been rolled out in the last weeks to serve as an alternative to okada.
“The State Government is doing a lot in transportation, which is the first pillar of the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. 15;jetties are under construction and some of them are at 90 per cent completion stage.
