Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos has told commercial motorcyclists in the state to turn to farming should the new Traffic Law prove too stiff for them.
At a meeting with the state leadership of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called okada riders, on Tuesday, the governor said their members were free to leave the job.
Assuring okada riders of government support, Fashola advised that their members who could not cope with the law could “register with the Skill Acquisition Centres across the State or take to farming as a profession.”
Reacting to public pressure to suspend the law, Fashola said it had come in force since the day it was signed.
“From the day I signed it, it became a law, so the idea of suspending the law is not something I can do even if I wanted to,” he said, stressing that the law was not intended to put people in jail.
“Our intention is to explain to you why this law is in your interest and in the interest of other citizens.”
Pointing out the scores of public petitions he receives about the activities of okada operators, the governor added, “Now you think I am restricting you; some people want you banned”.
In his address, Fashola explained the objectives of the law as including the promotion of safety, good health and improved quality of life for all.
He also urged the operators to first comply with the law before complaining, promising that operational adjustments could be made where genuine complaints arose.
Noting the challenges posed by not regulating the activities of the motorcyclists, Fashola said many women and children had been widowed and orphaned, and some had been maimed by their recklessness on the roads.
“You have a right to do business but that right is not absolute. It means you must respect other people’s rights so that they will respect your own,” he added.
Rising from the meeting, Tijani Pekis, Chairman of the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, promised to initiate programmes to sensitise their members to ensure total compliance.
He added that the association’s leadership would also assist in the enforcement of the law.
“One big statement that has been giving me problem since I sat here is, am I going to ask my child to come into this business? I think that question has personally knocked me out of the okada business,” he said.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
is there any land for farming in lagos state for okada riders to farm?
ReplyDeleteOkada business is a sign of a sick nation.
ReplyDeleteBRF should be bold, seize the rabbit by it's ear and rid Lagos of these louts called 'Rider' and 'Aboki'. What is he waiting for?!
ReplyDeleteI an utterly disappointed that Fashola deemed it fit to find time to sit down with these yeye Okada people and talk to them. He should have delegated the most junior of his aides to meet with them. Rid Lagos of these cretins now.
ReplyDeleteAll of u that are against this Okada riders are ingrates, despite their disadvantages, they have served u guz well in one one or d other. So watch what u say!!!
ReplyDeleteRid Lagos of these cretins abi?? Tommorow you will be the first to complain about the increase in armed robberies...For now okada is here to stay.. Therefore, the industry must be regulated....
ReplyDeleteThose who are at the top should not destroy the the wrungs of the ladder they use! All of u saying they should ban okada now, when u came to lagos if not okada u wont be able to go to work! Now that u have gotten a car u ar clamouring for the ban of okada!
ReplyDeleteu said okada should be band, but remember one way or the other,okada has being a grace to u guys in times of need. Well, when jobs are not available? What willl u expect a B.s.c holder to do? Rob banks or sell pepper and tomotoes? Fasola should think of a way out not farming? Were in lagos can u farm? Break peoples house or what? We have to be real, farmers dont get funds when due? U cant preserve your produce? So he should think of a better way out not farming. Gazula
ReplyDeleteMost of you claim there is no land to farm, must you do farming at the heart of Lagos, in places like VI or Ikoyi. If you are interested in farming move to Epe, Ikorodu or Badagry. Better still your states of origin, land are more accessible outside Lagos. people dont farm within London, New York etc. Truly we have benefitted from the menace called okada.
ReplyDeleteBut must we continue to breed disabled members due to carelessness of the okada riders? In Accra/Abuja there is no Okada yet people go to work. Either of these locations does not have Lagos Population.
Okada is not a solution to crime, but an enabler of crimes as experience has shown over the years.
The social problems of this menance overshadow any claim of its positives, BAN OKADA NOW! NO TO REGULATIONS!