Lasun Alagbe
As the Lagos State Government begins the implementation of the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly called okadas, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, has described as unanimous the resolve to save the state from okada menace.
According to him, Lagosians generally recognise the nuisance and security risk okada riders constitute and are thus determined to see the transportation mode banned for good.
Omotoso noted this on Wednesday morning when he spoke on ‘You View’ on TVC.
He explained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was prepared to see the law banning the creed fully implemented, adding that security agencies and other stakeholders involved were ready for full implementation.
Omotoso said, “The ban is people-driven, and that is a major factor that will make it real and successful. The okada riders too have seen that the ban is real. Security people will do the right thing. This is the first time that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu would have a meeting with heads of all security agencies, including all Divisional Police Officers ,to galvanise support for enforcement and all of them are ready to ensure that okadas become a thing of the past on our roads. The ban must be enforced without any compromise.”
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Omotoso said that statistics of the ills okadas had been inflicting on the polity were staggering.
According to him, most of the accidents recorded are caused by them.
Giving the picture of those recorded in the first quarter of 2022, he said of the over 1,700 accidents that occurred in Lagos, close to 800 were okada-related.
Most of the victims, the commissioner said, were youths.
He, however, assured everyone that the ban, this time, would endure, adding that the one ordered by Sanwo-Olu in February 2020 was only affected by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Omotoso stressed that residents of security and safety.
He said the government had stepped up investment in road and water transport to ensure that there was no gap, saying although okadas could have contributions they make to revenues, “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not a kind of leader person who will trade the lives of Lagosians for money.”
