The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a total and indefinite ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles (popularly called Okada), in six Local Governments areas of Lagos state. The local government areas include Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.
While speaking with the DPOs in Lagos at the Lagos House, Ikeja; Governor Sanwo-Olu advised the officers to ensure that the ban is totally enforced.
Sanwo-Olu said, “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. 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.
“This is a phased ban we are embarking on this period, and we expect that within the short while when this ban will be enforced, Okada riders in other places where their activities are yet to be banned can find something else to do. We have given the notice now and we expect all commercial motorcycles plying the routes in the listed councils and areas to vacate the highways before enforcement begins. The enforcement will be total.”
This decision is coming days after some okada riders killed a young man in Lekki, Lagos State, over a N100 balance.
We hope this development brings the necessary change.
