The Lagos State Government has given okada riders in the state a 21-day ultimatum to vacate all restricted routes in the metropolis.
The state government met with okada unions in Lagos on Thursday at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on the need for okada riders to vacate the roads.
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| Motorcycles seized by the Lagos state government |
“We just held a meeting with the okada unions on what should be done; we have held meeting with security agencies before now. Recently, we noticed resurgence of okada riders going back to their old ways.
“Some of them even drive one way on Apapa Expressway. When you go to Apapa, Lagos-Badagry Express, Gbagada, and others, you will see them. We have to call them to let them know.
“The complain was that when the election was coming, there was relaxation and they went back. They though there had been relaxation. They asked us to give them sometimes, We felt there was need for two weeks of eligntement, but they said it was too short. They asked for. Two months till August and we say no, we can only give three weeks maximum because we are not doing anything new, what we are doing is to reinforce the law, it is not that we are renacting the law,” he said.
Bello said when the law was introduced in. 2012, okada accidents dropped, as many hospitals felt the relief, saying that Igbobi and LUTH no longer have lots of patients.
“We are not going back to that era again. Three weeks is not small, they have to go and enlightenment their members on the need to leave the road. We are not going back on enforcement, we need to save members of the public and the only way to doing that is to restrict them,” he added.
The SSG stated that enforcement was relaxed during the last election so that political parties would
not capitalise on the enforcement for cheap political gains.
“We relaxed during the election because we don’t want crisis and violence and to avoid exploitation by political parties. We needed to avoid crisis at that time so that political parties will capitalise on it. The enforcement will be in full force after three weeks,” he. Said.
He said three weeks was enough time for the riders to make adjustment so that government would not have to spend much money on enforcement.
“These are laws already in place and they have to obey, it is just that we have relaxed and members of the public have started feeling the pains. Go and see lots of violation between Okota and Mile 2 now, some of them have started colliding with cars, we cannot continue,” he said.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Oluseyi Coker said the law restricting. Okada riders from major roads. Was still in force, as government had not suspended it.
“We are doing this so that when we start enforcement, they will not say government is doing this and that. The violation is much and we want to call the unions together to give them opportunity to say their mind.
“The Lagos State Government will do it right. We assure that there will be withdrawal and after that if you want to test the power of government, we will deal with such,” Coker stated. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Okada should be ban and not restricted from all roads in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteIt is the laziest form of employment.
It just portray the level of greed in the society.
Everybody wants now-now naira. It is wrong, nobody wants to work and collect money later.
Today-today money has spoilt each and every of us.
Let's change our orientation.
Our attitude towards money making is too poor.
There is no doubt, money is good but money is not everything.
MUMU! Provide jobs for OKADA riders, before baning them. MUGU MUTUMI!
DeleteElection is over
ReplyDelete