The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has placed a ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles also known as Okada in six Local Governments. As stated by the governor while in a meeting with Police Chiefs in the State he referred to the ban as "indefinite and total". The ban affects the whole of Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa. He enjoined other security agencies will join in the enforcement while the ban takes effect from 1st June 2022.
The above decision of the governor is coming shortly after a mob of motorcycle riders attacked and killed a sound engineer with Legacy360 Band, Sunday David Imoh, at the Admiralty Way, Lekki over an argument of 100 naira fare.
It was also revealed that the mob also attacked and injured two other members of the said band including a saxophonist, Francis Olatunji, and Philip Balogun who plays the keyboard.
The act has been condemned by great numbers of state residents calling on the governor to find a solution in curtailing the excesses of the okada riders.
He said, “After a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six Local Government Areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated. We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six Local Government and their Local Council Development Areas, effective from June 1, 2022.
“This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period, and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do. We have given the notice now and we expect all commercial motorcycles plying the routes in the listed councils and areas to vacate the highways before enforcement begins. The enforcement will be total.”
