Traffic Law: Fashola Arrests Police Officer Riding Okada

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday arrested a police officer, identified as Ebahan Johnson, who violated the new traffic law by riding his 100 CC commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada on the Agege Motor Road, Ikeja.

The governor accosted the police officer on the expressway during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in the Lagos-West Senatorial District of the state, while riding a red Bajaj motorcycle.

The officer who resisted arrest earlier, succumbed when he realised that he was accosted by the governor, who had warned that Okada should not ply the express road with a motorcycle with such capacity and without helmet. Fashola on the arrest said: “There is no one that is above the law. If anyone cannot submit itself to the law of the state, then that person should please leave the state.” He warned that the state government would not condone violation of the road traffic law of the state, which was signed into law to bring sanity back to road transportation.

He said: “There is no society where laws are not broken, but the state government will increase its enforcement for residents to comply with. And as we move on the road and we see any one violating the law, we will stop and arrest them.” On the officer, the governor stated that the officer would be handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Mankko for proper prosecution.

“I am sure he would be prosecuted,” Fashola stated. Meanwhile, hundreds of traders of Katangowa, Agbado-Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, (LCDA),urged the state government to halt its plan to relocate the market for the construction of the new Lagos State Digital Village presently located in Ikeja Area of Lagos.

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Okada Ban: 2 Septuagenarians Slump, Die

 Following the Delta State government’s ban on the use of motorcycles, popularly called “Okada”, three septuagenarian traders have reportedly slumped and died around Umuagu-Asaba while waiting for means to move out to their business centres.

Reliable sources said two of the victims have been regular visitors to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, where they were said to have been taking treatment for hypertension and other related ailments.

Leadership investigations revealed that commuters have been faced with the problem of insufficient tricycles that replaced the Okada as, in most cases, they wait for several hours to no avail to get their destinations.

Expectedly, there is a mad rush for the only few tricycles that are available.Sources said victims of the unfortunate incident died on their way to the hospital, a situation that has created palpable tension in the quarters.

An Okada rider in Asaba who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had relocated to Sapele owing to the ban, stressing that Okada business is his only source of his livelihood.

He said: “I am happy that the ban has not been extended to Sapele,  or how would I have been able to feed my family?”

Reports indicated that many of the Okada riders that were formally resident in Asaba have relocated to Benin, where they are said to be making fortunes in the recent times.

Meanwhile, the people of Ugborikoko, Sapele, have continued to experience holdup on the road and in most cases the holdups last for hours as a result of potholes on the road.

Some of the motorists have appealed to the local and state governments to intervene and save them from the pains of spending hours on the way especially in the morning during school run.

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Okada Riders Protest Lagos Traffic Law, Vandalize 10 BRT Buses

 Not less than 10 Bus Rapid Transport, BRT, vehicles were yesterday vandalized by protesting commercial motorcycle operators at Onipanu, along Ikorodu Road as they protest the enforcement of the Lagos Road Traffic Law.

The Lagos State House of Assembly expressed concern over increasing lawlessness of commercial operators in the state following the violent protest, and threatened to outrightly ban their activities if they refused to conform to the Traffic Law.

The violent protest which yesterday caused pandemonium and left many commuters stranded at various bus stops on the busy road and adjoining ones may not be unconnected to the aggressive enforcement of the Traffic Law in accordance with the order of the state Commissioner of Police.

The protest also had its toll on traffic as heavy traffic was witnessed along Ikorodu Road and others.

The Police Commissioner had earlier issued a marching order to Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, in the state to mobilize their men for enforcement of the Road Traffic Law due to the disobedience of the Okada riders. Several motorcycles were impounded in the process.

Due to this development, the entire Awolowo Road up to Secretariat, Aluasa, was deserted by the motorcycle operators.

The angry and aggrieved Okada operators were reported to have stormed the dedicated BRT Bus Stop as early as 9:00a.m, denouncing the enforcement of the law on 475 roads in the state, indiscriminate arrests and alleged extortion by men of the Nigeria police and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. .The protesters were said to have pelted every BRT vehicle they came across at Onipanu with stones and other dangerous weapons without considering the safety of over 50 passengers onboard. 

The new Lagos Road Traffic Law which among other things prohibits the operation of commercial motorcycles on 475 Lagos roads was signed into law by Governor Babatunde Fashola on August 3.

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Lagos Okada riders on strike

MEMBERS of National Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycle Owners and Riders Association, Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners and Workers Association and Okada Riders Welfare Association have called on their members to stay off the street from 7a.m to 10a.m tomorrow (Monday), to enable them attend a court session.

 Chairman of the four associations, Mr. Daramola Williams, said the action was necessary to demonstrate support and solidarity in court following the suit filed on their behalf against the Lagos State Government by their lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, over the banning of Okada from operating within the Ikeja Business District.

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