Commercial cyclists popularly known as okada on Monday marched through some major streets in Lagos, protesting the state government’s fresh clampdown and seizure of their bikes.
The protests spread across the metropolis, as the okada riders pounced on policemen.
Reports said the cyclists grounded vehicular movement in some parts of Lagos and attacked government-owned Bus Rapid Transit buses.
They reportedly vandalised five BRT buses at Onipanu and chased passengers away.
Many residents were forced to trek long distances on foot, as a result of the protests.
The state government renewed its clampdown on the okada riders on Thursday, with its task force on environmental offences and other offences seizing many bikes.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Motorcycle Owners and Riders in Lagos State, Tijani Perkis, stated that the union would meet with Governor Babatunde Fashola to relax the order banning okada from operating on about 500 roads in Lagos State.
“I have nothing to say now. But I will be meeting with the governor tomorrow and after our meeting I may talk to the press,” he said.
Recently, the state government’s task force on environmental sanitation and special offences destroyed over 3,000 bikes, a move that was criticised in some quarters as a high-handed response to the challenge posed by the riders. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
more unemployment, more robbery.............
ReplyDeleteIt is rubbish,he is just thinking of himself alone,did he buy them bus in replacement or even marwa to compensate them
ReplyDeleteThe state Govmnt should look for other means of surviver for these individuals as this will increase the crime rate in the state imagine the okada riders,okada task forces,and various sub will be rendered jobless so whate do u think will happen? All I feel the govmnt shd do is equip and educate riders on the nuns and tenants f the road and also remind them of the implications or reckless riding .....
ReplyDeleteThe riders can as find another means of living.Must they ride bikes on the experess road? The govt; is doing the right tin.
ReplyDeletelet's always weigh the advantage over the disadvantages b4 any decision is taken by the govt. There are no jobs, no alternative means of livelyhood which will lead to increased crime rate and more fustration couple with traffic jams due to bad roads. Fashola re-consider.
ReplyDeleteWhen Okada was banned in other States of Nigeria such as Abia and Abuja we did not hear of riots and destructions. Okada riders from Abuja and other States came to Lagos and they are behaving as if Lagos is a no man's land. Their action is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteThe population in Lagos is far more than that of other states on the bases that Lagos is highly industrialized while Abia is not. The terrible trafic situation in all cities in Lagos is not experienced in Abia or any other states. Okada is only banned to operate in the major cities like Wuse, Maitama,Asokoro etc in Abuja but others like Kubwa,Jukwoyi,Yanyan,Kuje etc still have okada riders in operation. I am of the opinion that laws should not be adopted in a society simply because it worked out in other places instead, it should be critically analysed to ensure that it affects the lives of those it is made for positively.
ReplyDelete