Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government has reiterated that riders and passengers risk spending three years in prison for flouting Lagos’ Okada ban.
This was made known by the Lagos State Commissioner for transportation Frederick Oladeinde announced during a press conference in Lagos.
You would recall that the Lagos State government had announced a total ban on the operation of Okadas in some LGA’s in the state.
The State government went further to extend the ban to four more local government areas and six LCDAs effective September 1.
The commissioner said “Anybody caught riding motorcycle (Okada), both passengers and riders, will be sent to jail for three years. It is backed by the law,”
He further said “As a responsive government, we are not leaving the affected passengers who patronised these commercial (Okada) riders stranded without leaving any viable transport alternatives.”
He however suggested that people in the state should trek instead of riding a commercial motorcycle, stressing that “walking and cycling are not a bad idea.”
“I have never heard where walking kills, but I know when you ride cars, it shortens your lifespan if you do not exercise,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner noted that the ministry and other ministries in the state are working together to empower Okada riders.
He said “We are not compromising on the decision which is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to decrease in accidents, crime rates as well as return sanity to the communities within the state.”
The commissioner said security and law enforcement agencies will be deployed to implement and enforce the second phase of Lagos’ total ban on Okada.
