Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has asked those not are happy with the law banning motorcycle riders, known as Okada riders, from plying 475 roads in the metropolis to visit the medical emergency wards of various public hospitals to see the havoc wreaked by their activities.
Fashola spoke at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, at a special session on Law and Order in the State on Tuesday.
His comment came in the wake of hardship and groaning experienced by Lagosians in the aftermath of the ban on okada riders from plying certain routes in the state.
Fashola, who spoke on the topic Freedom From Fear in relation to Law and Order in Lagos State, said those that are against the law should visit the hospitals and emergency wards and see those who have lost limbs, arms, those who have lost children or those who have become orphans by the recklessness of the okada riders.
Noting that a lot depends on the citizenry in ensuring an orderly society, the governor said everyone must build a consensus that the idea behind the new traffic law was one that involved the quality of life of everyone, the protection of the assets of every resident of Lagos and their businesses.
Citing the various well organised public transport systems that had existed in the past like the L.M.T.S and L.S.T.C, he said these examples should spur the citizens and members of the club to think of how the state arrived at its present condition in terms of the unbridled operation of commercial motorcyclists.
According to him, in less than two decades, okada riding had gained so much prominence that it had become a phenomenon which should not have been allowed in the first place, stressing that the elite also contributed as many encouraged their staff to take okada to run errands quickly.
“The only way to stop the business from flourishing is by not patronising them. It is a business that if the income from it dwindles, the business proposition of those in it will change,” he said.
Fashola added that there should be concerted effort by everyone to ensure that Nigeria did not reach the notorious status of Bangkok in terms of traffic because Bangkok “is a city that loses about one billion dollars every year to traffic congestion and where the training of the average traffic police officer includes the delivery of babies from pregnant women who are trapped in traffic.”
He urged business executives and corporate leaders to rethink the types of ventures being supported, adding that tricycles known as Keke Marwa represented the sign of India’s age of poverty which the country is striving hard to move away from as it is now busy manufacturing TATA buses and wondered why that is what Nigerians are now embracing wholeheartedly.
“The same applies to motorcycles which originated from China. Currently, the Chinese are making fast trains for their usage while Nigerians are helping their economy by patronizing their Okadas,” he stated.
The governor noted that those who break the law with impunity were often more than those who did not, adding that over 100 Okada riders from Niger Republic had been deported to their country in the last 24 hours for breaking the traffic law.
He warned that “there is no going back on the enforcement of the state traffic law.”
Meanwhile, some of Lagosians have started groaning in pains in the aftermath of the ban on okada riders from plying certain roads in the metropolis.
In many areas in the metropolis, many people were stranded as the few commuter buses available were not enough to convey people to their various destinations.
Some Lagosians resort to trekking after waiting for a long period to board buses without success. The commuter bus drivers were overwhelmed by the large number of passengers waiting to board their buses.
There were several cases of people scrambling to get into some of the buses. Some passengers even opened the boot of the buses to get in on time before others.
One of the commuters, Amoforhai Audu, said he waited for a long time to get a bus from Agege to Dopemu without success because the crowd was too much, complaining he was not used to scrambling for vehicles.
Audu said that he resorted to trekking from Dopemu to Egbeda when he did not get a bus to convey him to his destination, adding that in the past, he would have taken an okada with ease to his destination.
Another commuter, Ulelu Smart, lamented that he spent a long time at Abule Egba to board a bus to the Government Secretariat, Alausa without success and that it was a kind hearted motorist who helped her out.
She said Fashola should have provided alternative means of transportation before banning okada riders from plying strategic routes in the state.
A trader, who craved anonymity, also lamented the ban on okada riders, saying that it had affected her business drastically.
She said that rather than to wait endlessly for bus to convey her goods to her destination, okada rider would have helped her with ease.
Out of frustration, many Lagosians who were stranded at various bus stops accused the governor of not providing alternative means of transportation to alleviate the suffering of the people.
PMNews Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Mr Governor your defence for your decision to ban OKADA RIDERS without any consideration for their welfare and their dependants sounds very weak. Is there an occupation without its shortcomings? Will you stop putting money in Banks because in the past there were failled Banks? Why not use half the energy you are wasting fighting OKADA RIDERS to stop OMO ALAYE (illegal touts) in Lagos who do nothing except to extort money from innocent law abiding citizens. You cant do that because you are a beneficiary to their crime (Political thuggery and Election Rigging)
ReplyDeletehe is very firm in his defence of the law
ReplyDeleteAlternative measures should hav bn takn first mr governor, d banning of okada has resulted 2 high increase of robbery due 2 joblessness... I think ur effort should hav bn directed to d area of unemployment n d state nd banning of touts @ different offices of same state. Its such a big shame that touts are gvn automatic employment compared 2 d learned
ReplyDeleteIn life drastic action is necessary to get a solution! Be real! I cannot satisfy everyone in every action u take but if the majority is happy, so be it.
DeleteThe problem of Nigeria is vast and varies. The governor is right though, because I have witnessed their recklessness (okada riders) and seen their casualties. It will be painful for now, but we will get over it. Okada have been banned in Uyo and Calabar, everybody got used to it and improvised. The hospitals have confirmed significant reduction in accident victims by okada's recklessness, infact it's a zero case situation. I support the move, we Nigerians like threating ourselves like animals, what is killing us is always the things we ebraced at least let's embraced civilization for once and help the government succeed on this. I wish the goverment will also look into the number of children permitted by law for couples. No matter the development going on, its useless if the people are not civilized.
ReplyDeleteMr Governor,
ReplyDeleteYour excuse is so lame!
Motor Vehicles als kills.
why not setup a training centre for the okada riders and certify them.
What alternatives did you put in place before the ban.
Governance is for the betterment of the people not to punish them.
You missed it this time and i tell you, i will cost your party in the next election.
Stop thinking low of urselves! There are so many countries in the world where okada is never considered as a means of transportation but just for personal use and people still live! Think big and we'll be better, stop having poverty in ur mind. Help Fashola to make Lagos work bcos the man is working good!
DeleteGov Fasola, you have a dream for a modern Nigeria. This should actually be our dreams too. At this contemporay time, when the world is busy building a better modern and sustainable society, Nigeria seem to be comfortable with embracing those old and primitive systems from socio-economies that are not supposed to be emulated. Off course what do you expect from a society that does not have any structure or standard.
ReplyDeleteAgain peoples resistance cannot be actually separated from the inertia for change.
Okada riders and their supporters club, there are arable land in the hinterland, we must not all live in Lagos
Good thinking!
DeleteHas Fashola ever thought of visiting all the deprived and poor pple in Lagos who found themselves in such situations due to corruption,reckless financial management by pple in government,Lagos State inclusive.If resources r managed judiciously maybe those okada operatives would have been employed in other field.
ReplyDeleteWe are poor bcos we think poorly and end up not being productive. Get up ur ass and use ur brain to do something. Come to think of it, most of those okada riders are parasites. Lagos was better without them. They cld av continued farming in their villages and send the farm products to Lagos, buy modern farm equipment and grow but they will prefer to marry wives n more children come, they can't cope again and run to Lagos, thereby overpopulating Lagos. Use ur brains Nigerians!
DeleteThis is a wrong decision to ban Okada Riders from strategic routes in Lagos. The Governor should consider putting regulation in the industry as a whole because it is a large employment opportunity for people. There is no alternative transport provision for the vacuum created and this could lead to different types of crimes. People are now experiencing bigger transport problem in Lagos as a result of the ban. The Governor must act quickly to correct this bad decision.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm oga gorva u should have told us u don't want poor people in lagos anymore,u should have provided another mes of transportation if really u are fighing for our safety, u didint even look back atall cos u knw it will only affect the poor. Shame
ReplyDeleteYes! Lagos is not for the poor minded, it is for the rich in thoughts! It is not always what Lagos can do for u but what u can do for Lagos. Coming to kill people in Lagos due to recklessness and indiscipline is counter productive! Lagos does not need that.
DeleteMr govnor, u av gud intension 4 dis ban, but u suppose 2 put dis okada riders in2 consideration. Wot will bcome of dem if they av no source of income 2 maintain their family? Govt are 2 assist its citizens 2 improve their standard of livin, not 2 put dem in2 hardship.
ReplyDeleteJoepesky08.
Fellow country men. We must realize that you cannot make an omelet without breaking the egg. Beyond the issue of immediate comfort of Okada riding, we must think seriously about the issue of security. Apart from unprecedented armed robberies facilitated by Okadas, the surest way for Boko Haram to penetrate Lagos is via Okada as over 80% are Hausa/Fulani/Arabs of Niger, Chad and Sudan Origin. That has been the concern of security consultants and experts for some time. Lagos State Government action is like water poured on fresh fire before it spreads and consumes a whole market. Thus, those who are hoping to play politics with it have lost because the security agencies are quite happy with this decision and eager to implement it. It is hoped Ogun State government will not allow them to migrate to Ogun. A word is enough for the fool. Half a word for
ReplyDeletethe wise. - XYZ, SECURITY CONSULTANT
Wise! Tell them! Good thinking!
DeleteI will suggest outright ban and not restriction, for security reasons.
ReplyDeleteSSS, please investigate the role of Bike sellers Association on the violent protests and burning of LAMATA buses. Meetings have been held at Alaba and Ebute Metta on this. It is like the activities of Union of Generator Dealers. Without addressing them, no reform in the Electricity Sector will work. Just like no matter the billions spent on refineries, the fuel importers will not let the refineries work without a serious attempt at breaking their wicked resolve by the government.
ReplyDeleteI state again that there are on going meetings by interested Okada merchants to frustrate this ban
my Governor , while your efforts are laudable, i think a completely different approach would have been much better (1) okada riders should have been retrained and given certificates/ licence to operate in the state. (2) Anyone without this certificate caught riding okada will be fined or in- prisoned.(3) Any one caught with the permit/ certificate infringing the laws will have his okada impounded and go to jail.
ReplyDeleteover time we would have controlled the behavior of okada riders and achieve complete harmony in Lagos State
@XYZ that was a very brilliant point suggested..... I will rather prefer outright ban.XYZ @ SO
ReplyDeleteTalking about creating job employment which our governor have not provided. Why taking away the job created by the innocent citizens?
ReplyDeleteWell,,,well then...after using okada riders for massive rigging in the last two elections and now that he's no longer contesting elections in 2015, he want to get them off the street...Selfish conflicts of interest here. Mr Governor, you are a very bad leader...little wonder which can of Lawyer Governor you are. No matter what happens "whatever goes around must definitely comes around"
ReplyDeleteThank God for a great leader like Fashola. Today Oshodi is a pride to behold, but there were hue and cries when he worked on Oshodi. Lagos roads will soon become saver and security improved.
ReplyDeleteLet Okada be totally banned.
I strongly support the fellow that suggest birth control in Nigeria .we surely need it the population rate in Nigeria is too much and fast growing to double its present situation.
ReplyDeleteImagine a jobless couples having children like chicken every year and now they are seven in number. Without thinking of their up bringing ,no doubt they will deffinectly become problem not only to that family but the community and the general society at large.
I strongly support the fellow that suggest birth control in Nigeria .we surely need it the population rate in Nigeria is too much and fast growing to double its present situation.
ReplyDeleteImagine a jobless couples having children like chicken every year and now they are seven in number. Without thinking of their up bringing ,no doubt they will deffinectly become problem not only to that family but the community and the general society at large.
The population is not to much, the Land is big but people just concentrate themselves in one place. The rural areas are too empty. Every villager want to come to Lagos. Let is turn our villages into cites and u will discover there is room for us all! Think of the population of china, u go bow! But today they av converted their population into wealth! They are on top of the world!
DeleteOur Gov Fashola,You missed it this time.Yes they may constitute some nuisance in that they sometimes are reckless,but all means of transport have its own negative aspect.The roads will be more clumsy,more people will be forced to bring their own cars out daily,the the bikes ( the government want people to take to busstops how neat will it be at the BStops,there is more danger in cycling on the highway bthan motorbiking.No jobs for them means ,more robbery,insecurity,and all sorts of havoc.You stopped people from crossing highway to utilise the pedestrian bridges,are you not aware that berger needs one,PWD,in Ikeja via iyana ipaja needs about three,or is that a federal road too?,PLEASE IN CAPITAL,ensure all things necessary are put in place before embarking on striking on people,and also no thanks to your uniformed glorified AGBEROS in the name of LAWSTMA ..ETC...I Voted for you but i wouldnt expect you to do these NOW,you could have done it while you wanted to go for 2nd term,when you were buzy giving the OKADA RIDERS helmet......However all the Best,and we keep praying.
ReplyDelete