TheCable

The Lagos state government has warned commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state against flouting traffic rules and plying restricted routes.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the state government.

The warning is coming hours after some okada riders resisted a raid by members of the state task force, in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

According to the statement, Frederic Oladeinde, the state commissioner for transportation, at a press conference on Thursday, said the restriction of motorcycle and tricycle operations on 10 major highways, 40 bridges and roads within six local governments and nine local council development areas (LCDA) in the state is still in force.

“In spite of all the efforts of Mr. Governor to reform our transport sector, it is therefore disheartening to note a lot of our people are still going against the extant law of the state on transport operation and safe driving on our roads and in our communities,” Oladeinde was quoted to have said in the statement.

“The State Government prioritises the safety and security of the people. As a government, we cannot continue to watch this lawlessness develop into an uncontrollable situation.

“I say the game is over because in the last few months, we have witnessed a lot of security and safety challenges apparently as a result of the activities of unscrupulous ‘okada riders.’ These operators do not only violate the provisions of the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, 2018 with respect to restriction of areas of operations, but perpetrate crime using their motorcycles.”

The commissioner explained that violation of the restriction attracts sanctions ranging from N20,000 to three months imprisonment, as stipulated in the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018.

He also directed law enforcement agencies to ensure that okada and tricycle operators are prevented from accessing restricted routes.

“With the upsurge in the number of commercial motorcycle operators, we shall intensify our enforcement strategy. This we intend to carry out along with the various transport union leaders. We will set up a joint enforcement team to ensure that our roads are sanitised from the menace of okada riders,” Oladeinde said.

“We hereby direct all law enforcement agencies; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Taskforce and the Nigeria Police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes.”