12th June, 2012
The Lagos State Government has no plan to ban commercial motorcyclists (Okada) from plying their trade, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, a legislator, Mr. Bisi Yususf said on Monday in Lagos.
Yusuf (ACN –Alimosho I) told the newsmen in Ikeja that government would only regulate their operations.
The lawmaker who is Chairman, House Committee on Transport, said the public hearing which was held on June 7 on a traffic bill was expected to regulate the operations of commercial motorcyclists.
According to him, traffic violations by operators of the motorcycles will be checked by the provisions of the bill.
“If the traffic bill becomes law, it will deal with anybody who drives against traffic including the operators of the commercial motorcycles.
“Any motorcyclist or motorist who drives against the traffic or disobeys the traffic light will be jailed for three months without an option of fine.
“Also, articulated vehicles will not be allowed to ply the roads in the state from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. except tankers that distribute fuel at filling stations,” Yusuf said.
The lawmaker said under the proposed law, carrying more than one passenger or riding a motorcycle without a crash helmet would be an offence.
“The bill also proposes that any motorist who drives under the influence of alcohol and drugs will have his licence seized for one year,” he said.