Okada Ban: Lagos to crush seized motorcycles

The Lagos State Government, Wednesday, announced its plan to crush commercial motorcycles called Okada, seized during enforcement.

A statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the motorcycles will be crushed on Friday.

“Law enforcement agencies seized many motorcycles today (Wednesday),” he said.

“They will all be crushed on Friday in the presence of the media.”

A fresh ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was imposed by the government following the mob attack that led to the death of David Imoh, a sound engineer in the Lekki area of the state.

The ban was imposed across six local government areas – Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa and nine local government councils areas.

It’s not the first time the government would impose the measure. In January 2020, the government banned the operation of motorcyclists in 15 local councils across the state.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that many motorcyclists popularly called Okada in many parts of Lagos complied with the ban.

Alternatives

The ban, which is the first phase, was imposed following security and safety concerns, the commissioner said.

He said the state government has rolled out alternatives to cushion the effects of the ban in many areas.

“Many small buses, under the First Mile and Last Mile Scheme, were rolled out extensively in Surulere, Gbagada, Lekki, Lagos Island, and other parts of Lagos,” the statement reads.

“A number of taxicabs under the LAGRIDE scheme were deployed in Lagos Island, Ikeja, Surulere, Lekki and other places.

“The waterways were also busy as Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) put more ferries on their routes.”

Okada ban: 16 riders, passengers arrested

•140 motorcycles impounded

•Why Okada must leave Lagos —Omotoso; Says ‘Okada accidents record 767 out of 1,712 cases 1st quarter

•As riders drag govt to court


By Evelyn Usman, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Bose Adelaja &Juliet Umeh


No fewer than 16 commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, alongside their passengers, were arrested, yesterday, by policemen, during the enforcement of the ban on their operations in six local government areas, by the Lagos State Government.


The Police also impounded 140 motorcycles, while 94 of them were seized in communities around Ajah, Ikeja and its environs.

This came, as the Lagos State government has appealed to Lagosians to use alternative modes of transportation in the state, disclosing that out of the 1,712 accidents recorded in the first quarter of year 2022, 767 involved Okada.


Meanwhile, one of the motorcycle unions, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, has dragged the Lagos State government before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, praying the court to declare the ban as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

Lagos govt renews ban on ‘okada’ operators in aftermath of killing of sound engineer

The Lagos State government has announced a total ban on operators of commercial motor-cycles, otherwise known as okada in some local government areas of the state.

This followed the death of a sound engineer, in the Lekki area of the state who was mobbed, beaten to death and burnt by okada operators in the area over a disagreement involving N100.

The ban had been previously put in place by a previous administration in the state, but it’s implementation had become lapse.

The sound engineer, Sunday David Imoh, with Legacy360 Band was gruesomely murdered along Admiralty Way, Lekki.

Govenor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the reimposed ban on Okada in six local governments areas of the state.

The Governor gave the order at a meeting with DPOs and Area Commanders across of the state at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

He noted that other security agencies will join in the enforcement, which will be effective from June 1, 2022.

Local Government Areas affected by the ban are the whole of Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

It would be recalled that other members of the band were attacked and injured, in the mob attack.

A law banning the activities of okada riders was made in 2012 by the then Governor of the state, Babatubde Fashola.

The law barred okada riders from plying 475 routes in the state including Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Apapa-Oshodi Express, Lagos-Badagry, and Lekki-Epe expressways, among others.

Fashola had raised concerns over the many avoidable injuries and deaths emanating from the unmonitored activities of the okada riders.

Since then, implementation of the laws banning the activities of the okada riders has not been effective, as security agents had been accused of being complicit in taking bribes and allowing the operators to carry on against government’s directive.

Lagos monarch alerts Lekki residents of planned attack by commercial motorcyclists

The Oniru of Iru Land in Lagos, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal Abisogun II, on Wednesday alerted residents of the Lekki area of the state of plans by commercial motorcyclists to cause mayhem in the area.

The monarch gave the warning in a circular issued by the Onuru’s Palace and titled: “Urgent security alert.”

The warning came shortly after the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the ban on commercial motorcycle operations in six local government areas of the state, including Lekki.

The ban was the government’s response to last weekend’s killing of a sound engineer, David Imoh, following an argument over N100.

In the circular, the Oniru monarch advised residents to be security conscious at all times.

It read: “Intelligence report reaching us is that following the raid on Okada riders and seizure of their bikes in Lekki Phase 1, the riders believed the action was instigated by Lekki residents who are determined to take away their source of livelihood.

“To this end, there are plans to invade inner streets to cause havoc anytime from now in Lekki.”

I won’t steal to impress anyone” – Davido’s PA, Isreal DMW replies people mocking him for not having a car after he was spotted boarding Okada

Davido’s logistic manager, Israel DMW has reacted after Nigerians mocked him for not owning a car despite working with a wealthy singer.

A video which surfaced on social media captured the moment Israel was spotted leaving an event in Ekpoma, Edo state on foot before he took a motorcycle known as Okada.

This was followed by backlash as trolls attacked him for being broke amid rich associates.

In reaction, Israel DMW takes to his Insta-story to defend himself, stating that he cannot do more than his capability.

See his post below:

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