Breaking: Sanwo-Olu announces total ban on Okada in six LGs

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday announced total ban on okada operations in six Local Governments Areas in the state beginning from June 1, 2022.

This is not the first time the government had announced total ban on okada operations in these areas, as there were no strict enforcement.

But on June 1, 2022, Sanwo-Olu said the ban this time around would be total and would be enforced.

The move was taking after irate okada riders burnt to death a sound engineer, David Umoh, in Lekki area of the state last week.

At a news conference at the State House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu, surrounded by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi and the Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, listed the Local Governments to be Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

He said the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) under the six LGs would be affected.

L-R: Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu, Alabi and Ayinde during the briefing

There are nine LCDAs under the six LGs.

The governor charged all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and the Taskforce to enforce the total ban from June 1.

The governor said the ban in the six LGs was part of the phase banning of okadas in the state.

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“This is the phase banning we are going to be embarking on so that others know that in a short while, either they get out or get something else to do.

“From the first of June, the LCDAs that are underneath them, we are going to publish them and list all of them, so we are giving the notice now.

“Begin to do your strategy now, from the first of June we want all the okadas to be completely off these major roads,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

Sanwo-Olu advised residents patronising Okada riders on highways to embrace the alternative transport schemes already provided by the Government to plan their journey. He said the Government had provided Last Mile Buses, medium-capacity and high-capacity buses in the affected areas for the convenience of commuters.

The Governor insisted that Okada riding on the highways remained unsafe and would no longer be tolerated. He said the State Government had been ramping up construction work on its two rail line projects to further increase the choices of commuting for residents.

He said: “We have provided Last Mile buses in the affected areas; they are working and effective. We also have medium-capacity buses and high-capacity buses working in these areas. Before the end of the year, we are also bringing the rail along these corridors with their terminals. We have provided jetties as well to provide alternatives.

“We will not sit back and watch criminally-minded people use that mode of transportation (motorcycles) to perpetrate crimes and criminality in Lagos. Lives are being lost on a daily basis, preventable accidents are happening every day and the riders are not respecting any of our traffic laws. The situation has led to a complete breakdown of law and order. This ban has come to stay and we will not tolerate any weakness in enforcement.”

Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, directed his men to ensure complete enforcement of the Governor’s order in the listed councils and areas.

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