The Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the National Union of
Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya (MC-Oluomo), has
warned commercial drivers against indiscriminate increase in transport fare
over the ban of motorcycles and tricycles in some parts of Lagos State.
The NURTW boss gave the warning in a statement on Monday,
saying the warning became imperative following the complaints from members of
public, alleging commercial drivers of taking advantage of the ban to inflict
more pains on the commuters.
Lagos State NURTW Chairman directed that no commercial
driver should inflate their charges, warning that anyone caught in the act
would be dealt with in line with the rules and regulations of the union.
He directed all the branch chairmen of the union to monitor
and ensure that the commercial drivers do not extort people as a result of the
ban of motorcycle and tricycle operations in some parts of the metropolis.
He stated that NURTW in Lagos State has been making a move
to resolve the issue with state government and that the union is also working
assiduously with investors to inject more buses and increase the number of
commercial vehicles in the metropolis to ease the hardship faced as a result of
the ban.
Oluomo used the occasion to caution commercial drivers
against driving on one way or BRT corridors as anyone found culpable would face
the wrath of the law.
“We advise both the commercial drivers and TOAN and MOALS to
be patient and cooperate with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority
officials, obey traffic lights. It’s an offence to drive on BRT lanes or drive
against traffic. Obey the traffic laws and regulations, comport yourself
orderly and do not carry passengers at will.”
Meanwhile, with the full enforcement of the policy on Okada
and tricycle operations in Lagos even beyond the restricted areas, commuters
have started lamenting hardship as the policy has started having adverse effect
on them, complaining that they undergo stress in getting to their destinations.
Many commuters have resorted to
trekking and horse-riding due to scarcity of Okada and tricycles to convey them
in some areas.
In separate chats with people at different locations in the
state, the affected residents recounted how the ban has affected
them especially on the Monday being the first working day to experience the
effect of the policy.
Our correspondent, who moved round the metropolis to feel
the pulse of the people on the latest policy reported that police were seizing
Okadas and tricycles from riders on roads that were not listed or captured in
the directory released by the state government.
Some of the respondents who spoke, said
although the restriction order was given in the interest of the residents, a
monitoring team should be put in place to curb the excesses of security agents
while implementing the executive order.
A staff of Radio Nigeria Bond FM) located at Ikeja, Taoreed
Abdullahi, who lives in Oshodi, said the police he could not get tricycle to
convey him from Inside Oshodi to Ladipo bus stop as police arrested Okada and
Maruwa in that axis despite the fact that they were operating within the
community that is not among the restricted areas.
He added that tricycles and Okada could not operate anymore
since Saturday within Mafoluku since the police have been arresting them and
asking them to pay N30,000 to get their bikes and or Maruwa back.
“I think the government needs to monitor the police officers
who take advantage of the policy to milk the innocent Okada and Maruwa riders.
I don’t understand why they would be arresting Maruwa in the community that is
not among the listed areas. I don’t take okada right from time, I take Maruwa
but this morning there was no okada or Maruwa to convey me and there is no bus
from my house to my office, I take Maruwa every day. This morning, I had to
trek a long distance to get to the office I almost missed my programme in the
office.”
A youth ambassador in Ajao Estate, Abdulahi Yusuf, who is
known as PressyPoly said: “People are beginning to feel the hardship of
commuting within the area. Banning on Okada and Maruwa from plying the bridge
means people will have to get down at Iyana Isolo and trek to Mushin. Crossing
the ever-busy express at their own risk or incurring the stress of trekking
across the bridge. That’s uncalled for. Even Opay can’t ply the road. I have a
great Objection to Maruwa’s ban, there has not been any case of accident with
Maruwa lately and most people feel comfortable transiting in the tricycle. I
hope the ban can be reviewed and possibly reversed excluding some areas and
some bridges from the list.”
A Maruwa rider, Olanrewaju Adedeji complained: “I don’t know
why Maruwa was banned. It will affect every commuter. At least on daily basis,
I make not less than N8,000, and I carter for my family with this. Same applies
to many of us. This ban means we won’t have work to do, the best the government
can do is to get us alternative because we don’t know what else to do. There is
no job out there. Amongst us there are graduate, craftsmen. I’ve been riding
this for more than four years.”
A resident in Ikeja, Mr. Adeleke Adegboyega said: “The
government should have looked for a regulatory measure which probably would
have worked. They should design something whereby the security consciousness
would have been there. There is no job outside for those riders to engage or
get busy with.
An Opay Operator, Abraham Aminu protested the ban on Opay
riders, saying: “The ban will go a long way to affect my operation in this
vicinity. I live in Agege but I operate within Ikeja area I come here everyday.
Aside from the company’s money, I make not less than N5,000 here on daily
basis. The ban, in other area as well, will greatly affect our family. I hope
it can be reviewed.’
Chairman, Motorcycle Operators Ascociation of Lagos (MOALS),
Isolo Branch A, Comrade Lukmon Olaitan, stressed that the umbrella body of
Okada riders would ensure strict compliance of its members to the ban on the
listed areas but decried the manner at which police victimised Okada riders,
noting even those who comply with the restrictions and regulations were
victimized.
He said: “Though the policy is not favourable, since it is
the government that made the law, we will ensure they (Okada Riders) comply.
Though it will affect us in a long way but we will ensure strict compliance.
“Although, we are still pleading because I don’t think there
is an alternative for those okada riders in banned local government areas to
make ends meet. They’ve only blocked their viable means of livelihood. Again,
the rate at which police impound Okada in the communities especially those
plying inner streets is disheartening, most of them with no worthy reason, we
hope something can be done to this.”
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