Okada ban: Lagos state government crushes 2,228 seized motorcycles

The Lagos State government on Friday crushed seized 2,228 commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, following a fresh ban imposed on the operations in six local government areas which include Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa, and Surulere.

Penpushing reports that, the chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce in Alausa, Ikeja, Shola Jejeloye, made this known to journalists, explaining that the ban has been in existence since February 2020 and has been effective.

The task force boss had earlier on Thursday, in a statement, disclosed that 2,228 seized motorcycles will be crushed, while it is recalled that Governor Banajide Sanwo-Olu, in  May, imposed a fresh ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘okada’ from operating in six local government areas.

“It is not something that came into place February 1, 2020. And since then we have been on it. It is just that people believe in violating the law. Which I don’t think is good enough, in a cosmopolitan city like this. But since June 1, there have been more than 85 per cent compliance in the sense that we don’t see them on the road, on the express any longer. The numbers have drastically reduced”, Jejeloye said

Penpushing further reports that, the chairman of the Lagos Task Force emphasized that security operatives will sustain the enforcement of the ban, noting that the Okada riders might think the first week of the ban will be thorough and after one week the authorities will relax.

The chairman disclosed that another phase of the ban enforcement will start on Monday to check the compliance level, stressing that the latest ban is a new dimension and which will apply to every road user.

“They (motorcyclists) are watching us and I know that they might believe that the first week of the ban will be thorough and after one week we are going to relax. And you will not see any police officer, any paramilitary officer using his uniform to carry passengers. It has been a matter of principle,” he said.

“You are a police officer, you are a naval officer or you belong to the paramilitary. When you have to be on a bike you must be in uniform. You must be fully kitted, the law does not respect anybody. So if this is the position of the law we must align ourselves”, he emphaised

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