L
agos State Governor, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu has been urged to
intensify effort in ensuring the
full implementation of its inte-
grated mass transportation initiative in a
record time to put an end to the chaotic
transportation system in the State.
Some major stakeholders in the state
who spoke with us exclusively are of
the view that the banning or restriction
of Okada in the metropolis without a
corresponding initiative to confronting
the bigger challenge of providing a well
structured and affordable transporta-
tion system in the state would only com-
pound issues.
If there is one thing that the ban has
brought forth, it is the fact that Lagos is
in dire need of a thorough revamping of
its transportation system.
The past one week has been unusual-
ly hectic for thousands of commuters
in Lagos State. This is borne out of the
herculean experiences they have been
going through on daily basis in their bid
to commute from one part of the city to
another, no thanks to the recent restric-
tion order on operators of Okada mo-
torcycles and tricycles popularly known
as keke Marwa in the state.
Our investigation across the metrop-
olis shows that many have been going
through agonizing experiences on dai-
ly basis since last week Monday as they
jostle for the limited available means of
vehicular transportation to take them
to their various destinations. In many
instances, several end up trekking long
distances under the excruciating sun.
Lagos Governor, Babajide Olusola
Sanwo-Olu, recently announced the ban
of commercial motorbikes, popularly
referred to as ‘Okada’, and Keke Marwa
from plying major roads in the city with
effect from February 1, 2020.
He said the restriction order had be-
come necessary in order to curb the
excesses of the operators who have been
accused of causing accidents in the state
and also perpetrating criminal activities.
Specifically, Okada operators are no
longer expected to ply the following ar-
eas: Apapa, Lagos Mainland, Surulere,
Eti Osa, Lagos Island, and Ikeja. Tricy-
cles are also affected. However, the spiral
effects of the ban are now noticeable in
several other local government areas in
the state with several complaints of po-
lice extortions making the rounds.
Barely hours into the ban, several trail-
ers loaded with motorcycles and young
men suspected to be of northern extrac-
tions were seen leaving Lagos in droves.
They are believed to be some of the af-
fected Okada riders who have decid-
ed to ply their trade outside the city to
neighbouring Shagamu, Abeokuta and
Ibadan.
Consequently, a good number of the
streets and major roads in the metrop-
olis now wear a forlorn look with com-
muters noticeably stranded at the vari-
ous bus stops. Mile 12 to Ojota bus stop,
in particular have witnessed a very high
volume of traffic these few days owing
to the road expansion being carried out
at the Ojota axis. Many wonder why
such road maintenance activities were
not carried out at mid night when the
road would be free to reduce the stress
on motorists.
The restriction order on Okada and
keke Napep operators have not gone
down well with thousands of operators.
They had initially staged a peaceful pro-
test marches to the Lagos State Assem-
bly to express their grievances to the law
makers and seek their intervention. Few
days after, the protests took a more vol-
atile dimension with the obstruction of
human and vehicular movements and
burning of tyres in some parts of the city,
particularly, Ijora and Iyana Ipaja where
some casualties were recorded, including
the reported death of a child at the latter.
To compound issues, the available dan-
fo buses playing the roads have also cap-
italized on the ban to increase transport
fare to double the original rates.
To forestall this, the Chairman of the
Lagos State chapter of the National Un-
ion of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji
Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as
MC Oluomo, earlier in the week, warned
commercial bus drivers against hike in
fares. He said that the warning became
imperative following complaints from
members of the public, alleging commer-
cial drivers of taking advantage of the ban
to inflict more pains on the commuters.
While warning that anyone caught in
the act would be dealt with in line with
the rules and regulations of the union, he
directed that all the branch chairmen of
the union should monitor the fares and
ensure that the commercial bus drivers
did not worsen the plight of the people.
Many Lagosians have hailed the move
by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a
right step considering the menace the
Okada and tricycle operators have con-
stituted themselves into. They argue that
many of our hospitals are now overflow-
ing with victims of Okada accidents with
some having their limbs amputated. They
believe that no responsible government
would fold its arms and allow such law-
lessness take over the city.
However, some members of the opposi-
tion, including some civil society organi-
zations have kicked against the decision,
saying it was ill-timed and had deprived
the already impoverished citizens access
to their means of livelihood.
They wondered why Governor San-
wo-Olu did not factor in the need to
enhance citizen’s welfare through the
provision of massive job opportunities
to absolve the thousands of able-bodied
men roaming the city before coming out
with the ban.
“The happiness in the home of thou-
sands of our members have ceased as
a result of hunger. We are now jobless,”
cried a middle aged operator of Go Kada
who pleaded anonymity. “There are no
jobs around so many of us hustle to feed
our family with Okada. Some of us make
an average of N5000 on daily basis. But
with this ban now, we don’t know where
to start from. We have wives and children.
How are we going to feed them now?”
While lamenting that over seven thou-
sand staff of Go Kada alone have been
sacked owing to the ban, he pleaded for
the Governor to reconsider his decision
in the interest of thousands of families
who depend on the business for their dai-
ly bread.
Similarly, the candidate of the People’s
Democratic Party in the last election in
the state, Jimi Agbaje, in his twitter page
was quoted as saying, “..Such outright ban
on major routeswill be counterproduc-
tive and difficult to enforce. It will also
have negative ripple effects on the econ-
omy with so many already out of work
and cause inconveniences to commuters.
Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu has
maintained that the ban on commercial
cyclists in the state would not be reversed.
Reacting to the various plea for him to
reconsider his decision, he said, “As a re-
sponsible government, we will not fold
our arms and allow any security breach in
the state.”He announced the introduction
of 65 additional buses to the BRT fleet to
help alleviate the challenges occasioned
by the ban. Additional new routes were
also opened up for the BRT buses to cov-
er. This is in addition to launching new
sets of boats to enhance the use of water
ways transportation.
There are also plans to hasten up the
construction of the on-going metro rail
project in the state to reduce the chal-
lenges faced by commuters on daily ba-
sis.
