The Lagos State Government on Wednesday banned commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada, from operating in six local government areas of the state over the death of one David Imoh, a Sound Engineer allegedly burnt to death by some motorcyclists in Lekki over N100 change.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the ban during a meeting with police chiefs in the state, saying it is “total and indefinite”.
“We are now directing a total ban on Okada activities across the highways and bridges within these six local government and their local council development areas, effective from June 1, 2022,” Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in a statement issued after the meeting.
“After a critical review of our restriction on Okada activities in the first six local government areas where we restricted them on February 1, 2020, we have seen that the menace has not abated.”
He further added, “The affected local councils are Ikeja, Surulere, Eto-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.”
Recall that in 2018, the government established Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law to clampdown on those who compromise on the ban.
However, he advised residents of the state patronising Okada riders on the highways to embrace alternative means of transportation provided by the government. This, he said, becomes important, as motorcycles are an unsafe mode of transportation.