Tag: Okada ban

  • Okada Ban: FCT raids Communities, crush 432 motorcycles at Airport road

    Okada Ban: FCT raids Communities, crush 432 motorcycles at Airport road

    By Joyce Remi- was Babayeju

    As the FCT Administration bans Okada riders from Abuja, a total of 432 confiscated motorcycles known as Okada operating in the city centre have been crushed by the joint enforcement team following the raid of major roads connecting Communities along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport road.

    The team accompanied by operatives from Police, military and paramilitary stormed and ransacked Okada operators seen operating in Communities, thereafter, a total of 432 motorcycles were crushed.

    The crushing exercise which took place in the open at the popular Lugbe Car Wash along the Airport road was witnessed by top officials of FCTA, and heads and representatives of various security agencies including paramilitary organisations domiciled in the FCT.

    Areas raided were the Bill Clinton interchange, Karon-Majiji, Kuchingoro, Piwoyi Junction near Shoprite mall, Lugbe FHA, popular Lugbe Car wash, Police signboard, along Airport Road, all in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where the taskteam clampdown on some riders, who attempted to flee the scene.

    Reacting to the development, Chairman taxi operators, Car Wash Bus Stop in the area, Adebola Oluomo, said without the exercise, the road will be closed, as there a lot of obstructions due to the activities of the defaulting Okada operators.

    He said, “They are always on the expressway riding recklessly against the traffic, and no body could control them, and if anyone talk, they will stab the person with knife.”

    “The taskforce are always coming around, but the Okada operators will be stoning them, as they belief that they are the owners of Abuja.”

    “So, the government should continue with the exercise, as if it is like that Abuja will be very clean and the road will be safe for all.”

    Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, reiterated that the government will not relent on the reinvigorated effort to rid the city of the menace.

    Candido warned the operators and owners of commercial motorcycles to keep off the major roads of Abuja, especially the city centres and the gateways into the FCT.

    Also, Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Abdulateef Bello, said the exercise, the 3rd in the series of its signature enforcement of the ban okada operations in the city, is a proof to its zero tolerance of the menace.

    According to Bello , their continued insistence to operate in the city is no longer a traffic offence, but a serious security breach that required the intervention of the government, hence the involvement of military and paramilitary agencies to effectively tackle it.

    Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, noted that the choice of the location for the signature exercise was in order to send a strong signal to the perpetrators in a different direction, adding that as long as they remain recalcitrant, the FCTA remain resolute to clamp down on them.

    He said, “During the raid, we got okada totally about 432 for today, and we are hoping that with the resolve of the DRTS, we will be seeing more impounded.”

    “The Airport road is the gateway into Abuja, and what people see is what they describe of Abuja. Seeing Okadamen riding against traffic into the city, being so unruly and breaking the law at will paints Abuja in a very bad light. This is why the Minister of the FCT resolved that we must get them off the highways especially the Airport road and the Bill Clinton Drive.

    “The Minister has resolved that throughout the yuletide period, lawlessness will not be allowed in the city. So enforcement against illegalities will be non-stop throughout the yuletide period, and going forward for those who may want to commit illegality is going to be a real one.”

    Recall that although that motorcyclists have been banned from operating within the city, but many operators are seemly recalcitrant, thereby allegedly causing all sort of threats to lives and property in the city.

  • Lagos State Govt Extends Okada Ban To Four More LGAs

    Lagos State Govt Extends Okada Ban To Four More LGAs

    The Lagos State Government has extended the ban on commercial motorcycles, better known as Okada, to four more Local Government Areas.

    Transportation Commissioner, Frederic Oladeinde, who disclosed this during a briefing in Lagos on Thursday, said the move followed a review of the impact of a similar ban in six local government areas.

    “Based on the apparent positive impact of the ban and the resolution of the Stakeholders’ forum, Mr. Governor has approved the ban of Okada in another four(4) LGs and their respective five (5) LCDAs for the 2nd Phase of the total ban, in addition to the on-going ban in the six (6) LGs and their respective LCDAs,” the commissioner explained.

    He listed the affected council areas and LCDAs as Kosofe Local Government,  Oshodi-Isolo Local Government; Shomolu Local Government, and Mushin Local Government.

    The commissioner assured Lagosians that the government has put measures in place to cushion the impact of the most recent ban on Okada in the commercial city, reiterating that the move is in the best interest of residents.

    “This decision is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to decline in accident and crime rate as well as to continue to bring sanity to our communities within the State,” he added.

    “While the ban is in force, the public is advised to resort to alternative and sustainable means of transportation provided in the State such as the First and Last Mile Transport Scheme, the BRT Scheme, the Lagos e-hailing taxi Scheme (Lagride), and other acceptable modes of transportation to go about their daily activities.”

    The commissioner also said, “the State Government has directed the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos Command with all relevant stakeholders (i.e Army, Navy, Air Force, other security and law enforcement formations within the State) to be complimented by the ‘Anti-Okada Squad’ that will be deployed to these new locations in a bid to stimulate seamless implementation and enforcement of the phase two ban in the State”.

  • Fashola narrates how robbers attacked him, backs Okada ban

    Fashola narrates how robbers attacked him, backs Okada ban

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the use of motorcycles (Okada) as a major means of transportation is not in the plan of Lagos State and should be banned.

    He spoke at a public lecture organised by the United Action for Change in Lagos on Thursday.

    It will be recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had banned the operations of motorcycle and tricycle in 15 Local Government Development Areas and Local Council Development Areas, including highways and major roads in the state.

    The ban, however, has generated controversies and mixed reactions from residents of Lagos and other Nigerians

    Since the enforcement of the ban, residents complained of gridlock, hike in transportation fare and unavailability of vehicles to convey them to their destinations.

    But Fashola said rather than reduce crime, motorcycles aid it.

    During his eight-year tenure as the Lagos State Governor, Fashola also banned Okadas, Daybreak reports.

    “If you are concerned about security you must support the present Lagos governor now on Okada ban. As the Center of Excellence, motorcycles should not be our choice of transport,” he added.

    He also advised the Lagos State Government enforcement of the law, saying, “We are more focused on launch enforcement and increasing the numbers of policemen. Capacity development is great but security is more than law enforcement.”

    While giving reasons for his support for Okada ban, Fashola narrated that he was once robbed in his home.

    He said Okada riding also aided crisis and caused youths not to explore other productive ways of generating income.

    He said, “Do we stand in reacting mode or proactive mode. If reacting, there is already a victim and a criminal. If we are proactive then how long can we sustain that?

    “Motorcycles are means of peddling drugs to children even under the watch of parents without knowing.

    I’ve always held this position. Motorcycle has always been a conduit pipe for the opioid crisis among youths. We must act to eliminate anonymity.

    “I was robbed in my home, in fact on my bed in 1999. Organised crime is dynamic, criminals are aware that people don’t keep money at home again, now they diversified into kidnapping people for ransom.”

  • Okada ban: Lagos govt. to deploy additional buses to ease commuters’ pains

    Okada ban: Lagos govt. to deploy additional buses to ease commuters’ pains

    The Lagos State Government has directed the management of Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) to deploy a fleet of 65 buses to join some major routes as from Monday to ease commuters’ pain.
    The Public Affairs Officer of the LBSL, Mr Afolabi Olawale, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
    Olawale said that the step was part of the ways of providing succor and ameliorating the hardship that the commuting public might be facing as a result of the restriction order on the operators of motor cycles and tricycles in some parts of the State.
    He stated that the new routes and the fares where the LBSL would be extending its services to as from Monday included- Ikeja -Ogba (N100), Berger – Ogba (N100), Ikeja – CMS (N200) and Oshodi – Ajah (N500).
    Others are: Obalende – Ajah (N250), CMS – Ajah (N250) and Inner Marina – Ajah (N250).
    “Arrangements had been perfected for the smooth operations of these buses in the seven new routes,” Olawale said.
    The spokesman quoted Mr Idowu Oguntona, the LBSL’s Managing Director, as saying that the extension of the services would help reduce the vacuum that might have been created by the ban.
    “Commuting along the new routes will afford commuters experience the pleasurable and comfort ride services provided by the company.
    “More buses are expected to be added to the fleets of the company in no distant time,” Oguntona was quoted as saying.
    The Lagos State Government on Jan. 26 announced that it would commence enforcement of the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 from Feb. 1.
    The law banned the operation of motorcycles (okada) and tricycles (keke) in some local government areas and local council development areas.
    The state government also listed highways, bridges and roads where it banned motorcycles and tricycles from operating in the state. (NAN)